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LIBRARY 


2- 


THE    LIFE 


OF 


TIMOTHY    PICKERING. 


VOL.    II. 


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THE    LIFE 


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OF 


TIMOTHY    PICKERING. 


BY 


CHARLES   ^y.  UPHAM. 


Volume  II. 


BOSTON: 
LITTLE,   BROTTN,   AND    COMPANY. 

1873. 


. , : .  • 

J        .•• •T'/rr       r 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1873,  ty 

HENUY   PICKERIXG, 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


CAMBRIDGE: 
PRESS   OF   JOITX   WILSON   AND   SON. 


PREFACE 


TO 


CONTINUATION     OF     THE    LIFE 


OF 


TIMOTHY    PICKERING. 


From  early  life  Colonel  Pickering  was  in  the  habit  of 
preserving  letters,  accounts,  and  documents  of  all  sorts, 
that  came  into  his  hands.  After  his  death,  his  sons 
selected,  at  different  times,  what  were  deemed  most  valu- 
able, arranged  and  caused  them  to  be  bound  in  volumes, 
with  indexes  to  each.  These  volumes,  above  sixty  in 
number,  are  in  the  permanent  custody,  and  by  the  direc- 
tion of  Octavius  Pickering  have  become  the  property,  of 
the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society.  Five  volumes  are 
reserved  by  the  family. 

Only  a  small  portion  of  these  materials,  such  as  have 
been  requisite  for  the  purposes  of  a  biography,  has  been 
used  in  this  work.  The  residue  is  of  great  value,  and 
will  well  reward  the  researches  of  students  of  American 
history,  —  shedding  light  upon  the  period  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  the  operations  of  the  government  and  experi- 
ence of  the  country  for  the  subsequent  half  century. 

Copies  of  his  own  letters,  and  other  productions  of  his 
pen,  were  carefully  made  by  Colonel  Pickering,  and  are 
found  among  his  papers.    While  in  the  cabinet,  espe- 


^-'^.QQQQ 


vi  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKEUIXG. 

cially  when  Secretary  of  State,  he  was  under  the  necessity, 
from  the  pressure  of  business,  of  using  a  copying-machine. 
Unfortunately  many  of  tliese  copies  have  become  more 
or  less  illegible.  They  are  the  only  record  of  interesting 
and  important  information,  illustrating  the  most  critical 
and  momentous  emergencies  in  the  public  affairs  of  the 
country,  particularly  in  its  foreign  relations  ;  and  care 
ought  to  be  taken  to  put  into  an  enduring  form  so  much 
of  them  as  can  be  recovered  and  made  out  by  persons 
expert  in  deciphering  such  faded  documents. 

These  bound  volumes  do  not  contain  half  of  Colonel 
Pickering's  manuscripts.  There  were  chests  filled  with 
packages  of  unarranged  materials,  innumerable  accounts 
and  vouchers,  personal  and  domestic,  and  also  growing 
out  of  his  business  as  Quartermaster-General  of  the 
Kevolutionary  army,  and  papers  m  reference  to  farming 
operations,  and  agricultural  subjects  generally.  Those 
relating  to  agriculture  have  been  deposited  with  the 
Essex  Agricultural  Society,  of  which  he  was  the  founder 
and  first  President.  Some  of  a  local  interest,  with  dupli- 
cates of  matter  in  the  bound  volumes,  have  been  placed 
in  the  hands  of  the  President  of  the  Essex  Institute,  and 
the  remainder  passed  back  to  the  family. 

In  order  to  become  fully  possessed  of  the  elements  of 
the  subject,  before  entering  upon  a  continuation  and  the 
completion  of  the  life  and  cnaracter  of  Timothy  Picker- 
ing, an  examination,  with  careful  scrutiny,  of  this  mass 
of  materials,  bound  and  unbound,  has  been  regarded  as 
necessary. 

Mr.  Octavius  Pickering,  in  dictating  the  items  of  a 
will,  on  the  last  night  of  his  life,  caused  to  be  inserted 
in  it,  that  I  should  be  asked  to  complete  the  Biography 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKEEIXG.  vii 

of  his  father,  of  which  he  had  published  one  volume. 
The  request  of  a  friend  so  highly  esteemed,  under  the 
circumstances,  of  course  had  very  great  weight.  Further, 
his  father  and  mine  were  class-mates  and  room-mates  in 
college,  and  their  friendship  lasted  through  life. 

Colonel  Pickering  was  my  parishioner.  I  w^as  at  the 
side  of  his  death-bed ;  with  his  family  and  descendants 
I  have  enjoyed  a  friendly  and  affectionate  intimacy.  , 
But  chief  among  the  motives  that  constrained  me  to 
undertake  the  task,  was  the  fact  that  statements  and 
anecdotes  of  much  importance  to  his  Biography,  and 
heard  from  his  own  lips,  now  that  his  children  and  other 
associates  of  his  later  years  are  all  gone,  exist  only  in 
my  memory. 

In  looking  back  over  the  long  line  of  his  public  life,  i 
Colonel  Pickering  attached  peculiar  importance  to  his  ! 
Indian  service,  his  estimate  of  which  was  continually 
heightened  by  reflection  and  observation.  It  has  been 
felt  to  be  the  duty  of  his  biographer  to  make  a  particu- 
larly full  presentation  of  this  subject.  The  intervening 
experiences  of  the  country,  and  the  difficulties  that  at 
present  embarrass  and  perplex  the  government  in  its 
relations  with  aboriginal  tribes,  will  probably  lead  to  a 
general  conviction  that  Colonel  Pickering's  policy  was 
wise  as  well  as  humane. 

A  large  space  has  been  given  to  domestic  history,  and 
to  details  of  agricultural  operations  and  afl*airs.  This 
was  regarded  as  indispensable  and  imperative  in  por- 
traying the  character  of  a  man  who,  in  all  elevated 
spheres  of  public  life,  military  and  civil,  ever  remembered 
that  the  position  of  head  of  a  family  was  the  most  respon- 
sible and  sacred  a  citizen  can  occupy,  and  found  more 


viii  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

enjoyment  in  rural  scenes  and  labors  than  in  the  highest 
official  stations.  He  adorned  the  posts  of  Senator,  chief 
of  departments,  and  Minister  of  State  ;  but  the  titles  he 
considered  the  most  lionorable,  and  cherished  with  most 
pride,  were  Father  and  Farmer. 

The  extensive  use  in  these  volumes  of  letters  and 
documents  written  at  the  time  by  him  and  his  corre- 
>spondents  is  designed  to  impart  to  the  work  the  author- 
ity, and,  it  is  hoped,  has  given  it  the  interest,  of  an 
autobiography.  The  person  particularly  presented,  his 
eminent  compatriots,  and  all  his  fellow-actors,  are  thus 
made  to  pass  over  the  stage  of  life  again  before  the  eyes 
of  the  reader. 

c.  w.  u. 

Salem,  1873. 


CONTENTS    OF   YOL.  11. 


CHAPTER  I. 

1775-1783. 
Colonel  Pickering's  Service  in  the  Revolutionary  War,     pp.  1-44 

CHAPTER  II. 

1775-1783. 

His  Military  Character, 45-68 

CHAPTER  HI. 
1775-1783. 
^  Pickering  and  Washington,       69-110 

CHAPTER  lY. 

1775-1783. 
Colonel  Pickering  and  the  Tories  of  the  Revolution,      .     111-139 

CHAPTER  Y. 

1785,  1786. 

Colonel  Pickering  a  Merchant  in  Philadelphia.  —  Prize  Agent.  — 
Private-armed  Navy  of  the  Revolution.  —  Society  in  Phila- 
delphia. —  Colonel  Pickering's  Enjoyment  of  it.  —  His  Wife  ; 
her  Character.  —  His  Yiews  on  Education.  —  Family  Corre- 
spondence,            140-176 


X  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

1785,  1786. 

He  resolves  to  become  a  Pennsylvania  Farmer.  —  Alarming  Sick- 
ness, and  remarkable  Recovery,  of  his  Brother.  —  The  Rebel- 
lion in  Massachusetts.  —  Appointed  to  civil  Offices  in  the 
County  of  Luzerne, 177-196 

CHAPTER  VII. 

1753-1778. 
Wyoming  Lands  Controversy, 197-246 

CHAPTER  VIIL 

1786,  1787. 

Colonel  Pickering  organizes  the  County  of  Luzerne.  —  Removes 
his  Family  to  Wyoming, 247-287 

CHAPTER  IX. 

1787. 

Disturbances  in  Wyoming. — John  Franklin's  Arrest  and  Im- 
prisonment. —  The  Pennsylvania  Commissioners  driven  out 
of  the  Country.  —  Colonel  Pickering's  Escape  into  the 
Woods,       288-325 

CHAPTER  X. 

1787. 

Colonel  Pickering  in  Philadelphia.  —  An  Exile  from  Wyoming.  — 
Member  of  the  Convention  of  Pennsylvania,  to  act  upon  the 
proposed  Constitution  of  the  United  States,       .     326-343 

CHAPTER  XL 

1787. 

Letter  to  the  House  of  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania.  —  Argument 
in  Favor  of  Adopting  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States, 344-368 


CONTENTS.  XI 

CHAPTER  XII. 

1788. 

Colonel  Pickering  returned  to  Wyoming.  —  Ineffectual  Attempts 
to  procure  proper  Measures  of  Legislation  for  the  People  of 
that  Territory.  — ^  The  whole  Country  much  excited  on  the 
Question  of  ratifying  the  Federal  Constitution.  —  Colonel 
Pickerino-'s  Abduction.  —  The  Failure  of  the  Desig^n  of  his 
Captors.  —  Their  Dispersion.  —  The  final  Establishment  of 
Law,  Order,  and  Peace  in  Wyoming,  ....     369-411 

CHAPTER  XIIL 

1788,  1789. 


Mrs.  Pickering's  Visit  to  Salem.  —  Correspondence  with  William 
Binsfham.  —  A  Member  of  the  Convention  for  Framino:  a  Xew 
Constitution  for  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  —  Visit  to  Charles 
Thomson.  —  Unsuccessful  Applicant  for  Office,  .     412-446 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

1789-1791. 

The  First  Con2:ress  under  the  Constitution.  —  Colonel  Pickerinor's 
Mission  to  the  Seneca  Indians.  —  His  Views  as  to  the  Educa- 
tion and  Civilization  of  the  Indians.  — Declines  the  Office  of 
Superintendent  of  the  Northern  Indians.  —  Declines  the  Office 
of  Quartermaster  of  the  Western  Army.  —  Mission  to  the 
Six  Nations.  —  Appointed  Postmaster-General  of  the  L^nited 
States.  —  Letter  to  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  447-509 


CONTENTS    OF   VOL.   III. 


CHAPTER  I. 

1791,  1792. 


The  Post-office  Establishment  in  1791.  —  Applications  for  Ap- 
pointment as  Local  Postmasters. —  Colonel  Pickering  and 
Judge  Peters.  —  Pi-eaching  provided  at  Ayyoming.  —  The 
War  with  the  Indians  north-west  of  the  Ohio.  —  Colonel 
Pickering's  Service  in  negotiating  a  third  Treaty  with  the 
Six  Nations.  —  Removal  of  his  Family  to  Philadelphia. — 
Visit  to  New  England.  —  Family  Correspondence,  pp,  1-44 

CHAPTER  II. 

1792-1794. 

The  General  Post-office  in  1792,  —  A  Commissioner  to  treat 
with  Indians  north  of  the  Ohio. — Yellow-fever  at  Phila- 
delphia in  1793.  —  Makes  a  Treaty  with  Indians  at  Canan- 
daigua.  —  Makes  another  Treaty  at  Oneida.  —  A  Difficulty 
with  New  York  amicably  adjusted.  —  His  Service  as  Negotia- 
tor with  Indians, 45-87 

CHAPTER   III. 

1787-1873. 

National  Parties.  —  Presidential  Electors.  —  State  Rights.  —  The 
Congress  of  the  Confederation.  —  The  Senate  of  the  United 
States.  —  Foreign  Influence, 88-138 

CHAPTER  IV. 

1795. 

Colonel  Pickering,  Secretary  of  War,  in  Charge  of  Military,  Naval, 
and  Indian  Affiiirs.  —  Personal  Traits,  ....     139-171 


CONTENTS.  Xlll 

CHAPTER  Y. 

1795. 

Secretary  of  War.  —  Washington's  Foreign  Policy.  —  Jay's 
Treaty.  —  Approved  by  tlie  Senate.  —  Extraordinary  Meas- 
ures to  prevent  its  being  ratified  by  the  President.  —  Wash- 
ington ratifies  it.  —  Correspondence  relating  to  it,  172-208 

CHAPTER  VI. 

1795. 

Policy  of  France  as  to  the  United  States. — Fauchet's  Letter. — 
Edmund  Randolph's  Resignation.  —  Colonel  Pickering  ap- 
pointed "  Acting  Secretary  of  State."  —  Affair  of  Captain 
Rodham  Home.  —  Exchange  of  Ratifications  of  the  British 
Treaty, 209-248 

CHAPTER  YII. 

1795,  1796. 

Colonel  Pickering  Secretary  of  State.  —  Still  called  to  Discharge 
some  Duties  of  the  War  Department.  —  Harper's  Ferry  Ar- 
senal. —  Military  Establishment.  —  Regulating  Trade  with 
the  Indians.  —  West  Point.  —  "  Talk "  to  the  Cherokee 
Nation.  —  Letter  to  the  Oneida  Nation.  —  The  Frigate  pre- 
sented to  the  Dey  of  Algiers.  —  The  North-Eastern  Boundary 
Line.  —  Seizure  of  American  Vessels  and  Impressment  of 
Sailors,       249-282 

CHAPTER  YIII. 

1796-1800. 

His  Domestic  and  Personal  History  while  attached  to  the  Gov- 
ernment in  Philadelphia.  —  Death  of  a  Son.  —  His  Land 
Speculations.  —  Yellow-fever  at  Philadelphia  in  1797.  — 
Correspondence  with  Rev.  Joseph  Pickering  in  England.  — 
Libel  on  Colonel  Pickerinoj.  —  Death  of  Rev.  Dr.  Clarke  of 
Boston.  —  Yellow-fever  at  Philadelphia  in  1798.  —  The 
Degree  of  LL.D.  conferred  by  the  College  at  Princeton, 
JST.  J.  —  Letter  of  George  Cabot  declining  the  Office  of 
Secretary  of  the  Navy.  —  John  Pickering.  —  Timothy  Pick- 
ering, Jr., 283-329 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

1796,  1797. 

Secretary  of  State.  —  Official  Intercourse  with  Foreiorn  Nations.  — 
Correspondence  relating  to  Questions  with  Great  Britain,  and 
with  France, 330-364 

CHAPTER  X. 

1797,  1798. 

John  Adams  inaugurated  President  of  the  United  States.  — 
Colonel  Pickering  continued  as  Secretary  of  State.  —  Official 
Intercourse  with  foi'eign  Nations.  —  Correspondence  relating 
to  Questions  with  France.  —  Proceedings  of  the  Spanish  Min- 
ister, his  Prosecution  of  William  Cobbett,  his  Complaints 
against  the  Government ;  and  Colonel  Pickering's  Refutation 
of  them, 365-411 

CHAPTER  XL 

1797-1800. 

Secretary  of  State.  —  The  Federal  Administration. — Differences 
of  Opinion  among  its  Supporters.  —  The  relative  Rank  of 
Major-Generals  in  the  Provisional  Army. —  The  Institution  of 
another  Mission  to  France.  —  The  Pardon  of  Fries.  —  The 
Presidential  Election  in  1800.  —  Overthrow  of  the  Federal 
Party, 412-454 

CHAPTER  XII. 

1797-1800. 

The  Relations  between  John  Adams,  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  Timothy  Pickering,  Secretary  of  State.  —  Wil- 
liam Stephens  Smith.  —  Answer  to  an  Address  to  the  Presi- 
dent from  the  Freeholders  of  Prince  Edward  County,  Virginia. 
—  Adams  dismisses  Pickering  from  Office.  —  Their  Charac- 
ters and  Lives, 455-499 


CONTENTS   OF   YOL.   IV. 


CHAPTER  I. 

1800,  1801. 


Colonel  Pickering  prepares  to  leave  Philadelphia.  —  Resolves  to 
become  a  first  Settler  in  the  Woods.  —  Correspondence  Avith 
Friends  on  the  Occasion.  —  Sets  out  for  the  Wilderness.  — 
Makes  a  Clearins;.  —  Builds  a  Cabin.  —  At  the  end  of  the 
Season  visits  his  Relatives  in  Massachusetts.  —  Sells  a  large 
Part  of  his  Land.  —  Returns  to  his  Settlement.  —  Estab- 
lishes a  Son  upon  it.  —  Removes  with  his  Family  to  Massa- 
chusetts,      pp.  1-41 

CHAPTER  II. 

1801-1804. 

Colonel  Pickering  a  Farmer  in  Essex  County,  Massachusetts.  — 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  —  Candidate 
for  a  Seat  in  the  House  of  Representatives  in  Congress.  — 
Defeated.  —  Elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States.  — 
The  Louisiana  Treaty.  —  Amendment  of  the  Constitution,  as 
to  Mode  of  electing;  President  and  Vice-President.  —  Passas^e 
with  Aaron  Burr.  —  Domestic  Correspondence.  —  Political 
and  miscellaneous  Correspondence.  —  Relations  with  Jeffer- 
son. —  George  Cabot.  —  Richard  Peters,      .     .     .       42-92 

CHAPTER  IIL 

1805-1808. 

Elected  a  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  Six  Years.  —  The  ninth 
Congress,  first  Session.  —  Domestic  Correspondence. — Pur- 
chases, and  establishes  his  Family  on  a  Farm,  in  Wenham.  — 


XVI  CONTENTS. 

Second  Session  of  the  nintli  Congress. — Domestic  Corre- 
spontlence.  —  Battle  of  Trafalgar,  the  Effect  of  upon  Parties 
in  America.  —The  War  of  1812,  the  Effect  on  the  National 
Parties.  —  Burr's  Exjiedition.  —  Sickness  of  Timothy  Picker- 
ing, Jr.  —  Colonel  Pickering's  Journey  to  Starucca.  —  Death 
of  Timothy  Pickering,  Jr.  —  Tenth  Congress.  —  First  Ses- 
sion.—  High  Party  Excitement.  —  Colonel  Pickering  par- 
ticularly assailed.  —  Ilis  Letter  to  Governor  Sullivan. — 
Public  Receptions  and  Honors  in  Salem  and  Newbury- 
port,       93-137 


CHAPTER  IV. 

1808-1810. 

A  Senator  of  the  United  States.  —  Tenth  Congress,  Second  Ses- 
sion.—  His  Speeches  on  the  Embargo.  —  First  and  second 
Sessions  of  eleventh  Congress.  —  Domestic  and  general  Cor- 
respondence. —  Hanged  and  burned  in  Efligy.  —  A  libellous 
Handbill.  —  His  Correspondence  and  Proceedings  in  reference 
to  Libellers.  —  The  fast-anchored  Isle,  ....     138-173 


CHAPTER  V. 

1810,  1811. 

Senator  of  the  United  States.  —  Eleventh  Congress,  third 
Session.  —  A  Vote  of  Censure  by  the  Senate,  and  its  Effects 
on  his  Reputation.  —  "  Instructions "  to  Members  of  Con- 
gress. —  The  Bank  of  the  United  States.  —  "  Address  "  to 
the  People  of  the  United  States.  —  Domestic  and  gen- 
eral Correspondence.  —  Timothy  Pickering  and  James  Hill- 
house,     174-211 


CHAPTER  YL 

1811-1814. 

Returns  to  private  Life.  —  Journey  to  "Wenham. — Death  of  his 
Brother.  —  Correspondence.  —  His  North  Carolina  Lands.  — 
The  ancestral  Mansion.  —  Joseph  Dennie.  —  Letters  to  the 
Citizens  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts.  —  Baltimore 


CONTENTS.  XVll 

Riot.  —  His  Election  to  Congress  from  Essex  l^orth  District. 

—  Vice-President  Gerrv.  —  First  Session  of  the  thirteenth 
Congress.  —  Correspondence.  —  Letters  to  the  People  of  the 
United  States.  —  Second  Session  of  the  thirteenth  Conorress. 

—  Speech  on  the  Loan  Bill.  —  Correspondence,      212-251 


CHAPTER  YIL 

1814-1816. 

Board  of  Commissioners  for  Sea-Coast  Defence,  and  Board  of 
War,  in  Massachusetts.  —  Elected  to  the  fourteenth  Congress 
from  Essex  South  District.  —  Third  Session  of  thirteenth 
Congress.  —  Correspondence.  —  Speech  on  military  Peace 
Establishment.  —  Correspondence.  —  First  Session  of  the 
fourteenth  Congress.  —  Correspondence.  —  John  Randolph  of 
Roanoke.  —  Colonel  Pickering  declines  a  Re-election  to  Con- 
gress,       252-280 

CHAPTER  YHL 

1816-1818. 

Second  Session  of  the  fourteenth  Congress.  —  Speeches  on  the 
Compensation  Law,  and  on  internal  Improvements.  —  Cor- 
respondence. —  Colonel  Pickering's  Reputation.  —  His  Merits 
recognized  by  political  opponents.  —  Thomas  H.  Benton.  — 
Charles  Jared  Ingersoll.  —  Philip  P.  Barbour.  —  John  Ran- 
dolph of  Roanoke.  —  The  Close  of  Colonel  Pickering's  Ser- 
vices under  the  United  Statues.  —  A  Member  of  the  Executive 
Council  of  Massachusetts, 281-315 


CHAPTER-  IX. 

1818-1828. 

Agricultural  Society  of  Essex  County.  —  Colonel  Pickering  its 
President.  —  His  Address  in  1818.  —  Visit  to  his  Dausjh- 
ter  in  Maryland.  —  Her  Death. — Agricultural  Address  in 
1820.  —  Journey  to  Baltimore.  —  Removes  his  Family  to 
Salem.  —  Correspondence  with  Jefferson  on  Religion.  —  Chair- 
man of  the  Salem  School-Committee.  —  Visit  to  Philadelphia. 
—  James  Taylor.  —  Address  before  the  Massachusetts  Agri- 

VOL.    U.  ft 


XVIU  CONTEXTS. 

• 
cultural  Society.  —  Wins  the  first  Premium  at  a  Plougliing- 
Matcli.  —  Kcads  tlie  Declaration  of  Independence  at  a  Fourth 
of  July  Celebration.  —  lielations  with  John  Adams.  —  Adams 
and  Cunningham  Cori'espondence.  —  Ilis  "  Review  "  of  it.  — 
Agricultural  Report.  —  Engaged  to  write  the  Life  of  Ham<^ 
ilton.  —  Visits  Philadelphia  and  New  York.  —  Personal 
Friendships.  —  Interest  in  the  Greek  Revolution.  —  Address 
on  the  Subject. — Death  of  his  Wife.  —  Essex  Agricultural 
Address  in  1828 316-357 

CHAPTER  X. 

1829. 

Colonel   Pickering's  Death.  —  Sermon   on   the   Occasion.  —  His 
Character,        358-392 

SUPPLEMENT. 
Colonel  Pickering's  Family  and  Descendants,  ....     393-430 

APPENDIX. 
A. 

Thoughts  on  the  military  Establishment   proper  for  the   United 
States  at  the  Conclusion  of  the  War  in  1783,       .    431-443 

B. 

"An  Inquiry  concerning  the    Northern    Boundaries   of   Canada 
and  Louisiana," • 444-452 

C. 

Timothy    Pickering's    Vindication    from    Libel    in    "  Baltimore 
Whig," 453-462 

Colonel  Pickering's  01)servations   Introductory  to   Reading  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  at  Salem,  July  4,  1823,  463-469 

E. 

«  The  Suffering  Greeks," 470-476 


CONTENTS.  XIX 

F. 

MIS  CELL  ANEOIJS. 

John  Randolph  ;  Precision  of  Language.  —  Cognomination  ;  Feb- 
ruary 14th,  1817.  —  Americanisms;  March  2d,  1817. — John 
Randolph.  —  General  Arthur  St.  Clair.  —  General  Gates. — 
Patrick  Henry.  —  "  Edinburgh  Review,"  July,  1821 ;  No. 
LXX.  —  Madame  Roland.  —  Anecdote;  Jefferson  the  Friend 
of  Hamilton  !  —  Doctor  James  Wallace,  of  Virginia,  Febru- 
ary 9th,  1822.  —  Pericles.  —  Peter  Stephen  Duponceau. — 
Chateaubriand.  —  Washington,  &c.  —  Providential  Events.  — 
The  United  States  :  their  Independence ;  their  Republican 
Institutions.  —  Memoirs  of  my  own  Times,     .     .     477-499 


LIFE 


OF 


TIMOTHY    PICKERING. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Colonel  Pickering's  Service  in  the  Revolutionary  War 

1775-1783. 

Before  taking  up,  in  continuation,  the  life  of  Colo- 
nel Pickering,  and  entering  upon  the  subsequent  stages 
of  his  career,  it  may  be  well  to  present  a  retrospective 
view  of  the  part  he  acted  in  the  struggle  that  severed 
the  Colonies  of  Great  Britain  in  North  America  from 
that  eaipire.  His  military  life  is  wholly  covered  in  the 
preceding  volume,  and  it  may  as  well  be  reviewed  at 
this  point  as  at  the  end  of  his  biography. 

The  war,  resulting  in  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States,  is  generally  considered  as  beginning  on  the  19th 
of  April,  1775,  the  date  of  the  battle  of  Lexington,  and 
ending  on  the  19th  of  April,  1783,  when  the  Proclama- 
tion of  Congress,  announcing  the  cessation  of  hostilities, 
was  read  by  order  of  Washington,  at  his  head-quarters 
in  Newburgh,  —  a  period  of  precisely  eight  years.  Col- 
onel Pickering's  connection  with  it  covered,  however,  a 
longer  period.  Soon  after  finishing  his  collegiate  course 
at  Harvard  University,  in  1763,  while  pursuing  legal 
studies,  and  writing,  as  he  could  find  leisure,  in  the  offices 

Vol.  II.  1 


,,,    ,,t  '',;*»    ' 

r  «   c     «    ♦       •     •     ,    •    •        •  ' 

r  »    •_•  r  «     •  •       •   •      »  »  ' 


t        »    • 
f     « 


,,  J.P7<:,0F   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 


'  of  tHe  Keiristrv  of  Deeds  in  the  County  of  Essex,  and 

Vrd^vjfi'.  Cle.rk- of   Salem,   he   turned  his   attention   with 

1   .  .      . .  •    .  f  >  .  1 1 

irreat  earnestness  to  military  matters,  and  commenced  a 
series  of  active  measures  to  prepare  the  people  of  his 
town  and  its  neighborhood  to  defend  their  rights,  if 
occasion  should  require,  in  arms.  His  proceedings  to 
this  end  seem  to  make  it  quite  certain  that  he  discerned 
the  shadows  which  coming  events  cast  before.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1766,  when  not  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  was 
commissioned,  by  the  Governor  of  the  Province,  as 
Lieutenant  of  a  company  of  foot,  in  the  First  Regiment 
of  the  militia  in  the  County  of  Essex  ;  in  May,  1769, 
was  Captain  of  the  same  ;  and,  on  the  13th  of  February. 

1775,  was  elected  Colonel  of  the  regiment,  receiving  his 
commission  from  the  Royal  Governor,  which,  like  all 
commissions  from  that  source  and  under  that  authority, 
having  been  made  void  by  an  act  of  the  General  Court 
of  Massachusetts,  was  renewed  on  the  14th  of  February, 

1776,  by  the  "  Council  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay."  In 
1771,  besides  the  care  of  his  own  company  at  home,  he 
w^ent  at  stated  days  of  each  week  to  Marblehead  to 
drill,  and  instruct  in  infantry  exercise,  as  many  as  could 
be  gathered  there.  All  the  while  his  pen  was  employed 
in  laboring  to  diffuse  a  military  spirit  among  the  people. 
Articles  to  that  purpose  w^ere  inserted  in  the  newspa- 
pers, and  his  studies  were  directed  to  bringing  the  mili- 
tia to  greater  efficiency,  placing  it  on  a  reformed  basis, 
correcting  irregularities  in  its  usages,  and  impressing 
the  importance  of  its  acquiring  a  systematic  organiza- 
tion, and  strict  habits  of  order  and  discipline.  As  early, 
indeed,  as  1769  he  published  in  the  "  Essex  Gazette  '* 
suggestions  as  to  the  formation  of  military  companies. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  3 

By  such  active  exertions,  and  the  boldness  and  deci- 
siveness of  his  course  in  the  political  discussions  by 
which  the  public  mind  was  rapidly  becoming  more  and 
more  agitated,  he  soon  was  felt  and  acknowledged  by 
his  immediate  fellow-citizens  as  the  head  of  the  popular 
movement.  The  energy  of  his  character,  and  even  then 
his  universally  recognized  integrity  of  principle  and 
purity  of  purpose,  made  all  men  look  to  him  for  counsel 
and  direction.  He  was  chairman  of  political  committees, 
and  the  master  spirit  in  all  the  proceedings  of  that  crit- 
ical period  in  his  town  and  county.  The  following  cor- 
respondence shows,  in  its  Gonfidential  character,  that 
those  of  his  fellow-citizens  who  favored  the  Royalist  side 
in  the  approaching  contest  regarded  him  as  the  person 
to  be  addressed,  as  the  representative  and  head  of  the 
party  opposed  to  them.  It  illustrates  the  efficiency  and 
thoroughness  of  the  measures  adopted  by  the  patriotic 
leaders  to  ascertain  and  develop  the  military  resources 
of  the  people  ;  and  also  the  courteous  and  kindly  spirit 
of  Colonel  Pickering  in  his  intercourse  with  persons  of 
supposed  Tory  proclivities. 

Andrew  Oliver,  a  son  of  the  Secretary  and  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of  the  Province,  was  a  resident  of  Salem, 
for  many  years  one  of  its  representatives  to  the  General 
Court,  a  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and,  as 
political  divisions  became  decisive,  appointed  a  Manda- 
mus Councillor.  He  was  classed  with  the  opponents 
of  the  popular  cause,  and  considered  as  sympathizing 
with  his  father  and  family  generally. 

*'  Salem,  March  4th,  1775. 

«'  Sir, 
"As  I  have  ever  made  it  my  study  to  avoid  giving  offence, 
either  to  my  country  or  fellow-townsmen  ;  to  the  latter  of 


4  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

which  I  am  not  forgetful  of  the  obligations  I  am  under  for 
the  honor  they  liave  done  me  in  the  repeated  instances  of  their 
good-will  and  confidence  in  times  past,  I  would  beg  the  favor 
of  you,  Sir,  (in  confidence)  to  inform  me  whether  my  personal 
appearance,  on  Tuesday  next,  will  be  expected,  as,  if  the 
weather  should  prove  unfavorable,  it  would  be  at  the  risk  of 
a  fit  of  the  gout,  which  I  have  happily  escaped  this  season 
liitlierto.  My  military  accoutrements,  according  to  the  requi- 
sition published  in  the  '  Essex  Gazette,'  will  be  ready  for 
inspection  either  at  home  or  upon  the  place  of  parade  if  nec- 
essary. These  are  now,  and  ever  have  been,  ready  for  use  in 
the  service  of  my  native  country,  and  for  the  support  and 
vindication  of  the  constitutional  rights,  liberties,  and  privi- 
leges of  British  Americans. 

"  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

''A.  Oliver. 

"Colonel  Timothy  Pickeking." 

"  Salem,  March  13tb,  1775. 

"  Sir, 

"  Your  townsmen  are  not  forgetful  of  your  amiable  and 
worthy  conduct  in  times  past,  particularly  in  renouncing  that 
unconstitutional  and  justly  odious  office  of  a  Mandamus 
Councillor  under  an  act  of  Parliament,  which  would  overturn 
the  long-established,  salutary,  and  happy  government  of  the 
Province,  and  lay  a  foundation  for  com^^lete  slavery,  —  a 
renunciation  which  took  place  as  soon  as  the  importunity  of 
friends  gave  a  moment's  time  for  reflection.  I  am  persuaded. 
Sir,  you  still  enjoy  the  '  good-will  and  confidence  '  of  your  fel- 
low-citizens, and  I  doubt  not  you  will  continue  to  deserve  it. 

''  Your  personal  ajDpearance,  Sir,  to-morrow,  will  not  be 
expected.  It  rather  gives  me  pain  to  have  you  call  the  noti- 
fication for  the  muster,  with  army  accoutrements,  a  'Requi- 
sition.' I  know  some  have  represented  it  as  such,  and  gone 
so  far  as  lyingly  to  say  that  all  who  did  not  prepare  and 
appear  were  immediately  to  be  attacked  and  abused ;  but 
nothing  was  farther  from  the  intention  of  the  officers.  The 
inhabitants,  in  general,  had  remained  listless  and  inactive 
with  respect  to  their  military  preparations,  and  it  was  thought 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  5 

r 

necessary  to  notify  a  muster  in  the  terms  made  use  of  as  a 
spur  to  quicken  them  to  do  what  they,  in  general,  were 
saying  ought  to  be  done,  but  which,  like  a  reformation  of 
manners,  they  left  tmdone. 

"  I  am,  Sir,  with  great  regard,  your  humble  servant, 

"  T.  Pickering,  Jr. 

"  P.  S.  You  will  have  no  objection  to  some  officers  of  the 
ward  in  which  you  live,  waiting  upon  you  to  note  down  the 
particulars  of  your  arms  and  accoutrements,  that  so  our  return 
to  the  Congress  may  be  as  large  and  complete  as  possible." 

In  all  his  efforts  to  prepare  the  people  to  meet  the 
issue  of  the  pending  political  controversy,  if  it  should 
come  to  a  conflict  in  arms  with  the  power  of  the 
mother  cpuntry,  Colonel  Pickering,  while  holding  a  subor- 
dinate commission  in  his  regiment,  was  embarrassed  by 
the  circumstance  that  its  Colonel  was  a  Tory,  a  person 
of  great  influence  and  respectability,  and  the  represen- 
tative of  a  family  which  for  many  generations  had  been 
the  wealthiest  in  that  part  of  the  country.  Of  course 
no  countenance  or  consent  could  be  obtained  from  "him 
in  attempts  to  prepare  the  people  for  a  military  strug- 
gle ;  and  a  character  of  irregularity,  if  not  of  illegality, 
was  given  to  such  attempts  when  made  by  oflicers  of  in- 
ferior rank,  without  his  sanction,  and  against  his  wishes 
and  views.  To  put  the  organization  of  his  regiment 
into  public  and  long-continued  action  without  his  ap- 
proval —  for  Captains  of  companies  to  be  drilling  and 
parading  them  before  the  eyes  of  their  Colonel,  in  disre- 
gard of  his  authority,  under  his  frowns,  and  in  pursu- 
ance of  a  purpose  he  was  known  to  abhor  —  had  the 
appearance,  at  least,  of  a  mutinous  course  of  proced- 
ure. This  feeling  paralyzed,  more  or  less,  the  action  of 
many,  and  particularly  in  the  country  towns,  and  was 


6  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKEKING. 

SO  considerable  an  obstacle  in  tbe  way  of  the  general 
military  training  and  preparation  of  the  people,  that  it 
was  necessary  to  take  some  special  steps  to  remove  it. 

The  following  letter,  apparently  addressed  to  officers 
of  the  regiment  in  other  towns  than  Salem,  and  prob- 
ably signed  by  the  Captains  of  the  four  Salem  companies, 
is  found  in  a  rough-draft  among  Colonel  Pickering's 
manuscripts.  It  is  in  his  handwriting.  Having  therein 
explained  and  justified  their  course,  the  Captains  of  the 
Salem  companies  continued  to  gather  their  men  for  fre- 
quent and  systematic  instruction,  without  taking  any 
notice  of  their  Colonel ;  and  the  difficulty  was,  before 
long,  removed  by  the  course  of  events,  necessitating  his 
supersedure,  on  the  13th  of  February,  1775,  as  has 
been  stated.  "  Captain  Timothy  Pickering,  Jr.,"  was 
elected  Colonel  of  the  regiment  in  his  place. 

"  Salem,  December  26th,  1774. 

"  Gentlemen, 

"•Being  elected  to  command  the  companies  of  militia  in 
this  town,  we  have  met  to  consider  and  resolve  on  such 
measures  as  appear  practicable  for  disciplining  them.  Now 
the  greater  part  of  us  being  wholly  unacquainted  with  them, 
it  is  first  of  all  necessary  that  we  should  instruct  ourselves  in 
military  exercises.  Tliis  we  have  resolved  to  do  fortliAvith  ; 
and  we  shall  endeavor  to  procure  as  man}^  as  we  can  to  asso- 
ciate with  us  for  the  same  purpose.  While  we  are  thus 
applying  ourselves  to  the  business,  we  shall  cause  the  men 
in  each  company  to  be  taught,  and  give  all  the  encourage- 
ment in  our  power  to  induce  them  to  attend  their  teachers. 
Such  are  the  circumstances  of  the  town  we  are  of  opinion 
that  it  will  be  impracticable  for  us  to  proceed  otherwise  at 
present. 

"  We  hope  the  necessity  we  are  under  of  acting  in  this 
manner  will  prove  no  discouragement  to  the  rest  of  the  regi- 
ment ;  nor  would  we,  by  any  means,  be  a  bar  to  their  pro- 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKEKIXG.  7 

ceeding  to  fulfil,  in  every  particular,  the  Resolves  of  the 
Provincial  Congress.  We  are.  Gentlemen,  your  friends  and 
humble  servants.  By  direction  of  the  new  elected  officers 
of  the  four  militia  companies  in  Salem." 

This  early  period  of  Colonel  Pickering's  life  exhibits  an 
activity  and  versatility  of  powers  quite  extraordinary. 
Besides  the  clerical  and  professional  engagements  that 
must  have  demanded  much  of  his  time,  he  was  a  very 
frequent  contributor  to  the  local  press,  not  only  in  ref- 
erence to  military  matters,  but  on  other  subjects  that 
engaged  the  interests  of  the  community.  A  protracted 
parish  controversy  and  a  vehement  discussion  arising 
out  of  the  establishment  in  Salem  of  a  small-pox  hos- 
pital, drew  from  his  pen  numerous  articles,  filling 
columns  in  the  newspapers,  displaying  the  traits  of 
precision,  earnestness,  w-armth,  and  energy,  which  sub- 
sequently distinguished  his  productions  in  high  public 
and  diplomatic  spheres.  In  all  movements  and  meetings, 
in  these  and  other  miscellaneous  affairs,  his  presence  and 
co-operation  were  never  wanting.  He  was  deeply  inter- 
ested in  music,  particularly  psalmody,  and  was  a  leader 
and  teacher  of  the  choir  in  his  own  place  of  worship. 
It  is  a  circumstance  characteristic  of  the  times,  as  w^ell 
as  of  the  man,  that,  on  his  visits  to  Marblehead  to  in- 
struct the  people  in  the  military  art,  he  stayed  there  after 
the  drill  was  over  to  teach  and  lead  a  class  in  sacred 
music.  When  to  all  this  was  added  the  constant  care 
he  gave  to  his  own  military  company,  calling  them  to 
frequent  meetings  for  exercise  in  the  manual,  march- 
ings, and  musket  practice,  it  would  seem  that  his  days 
and  evenings  must  have  been  wholly  engrossed,  and  no 
time  left  unoccupied.     But  it  was  not  so.     He  found, 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKEHING. 


or  made,  intervals  amidst  his  multifarious  engagements, 
which  were  devoted  to  a  special  study,  and  resulted  in 
an   elaborate  work.     It  probably  engaged  all  his  avail- 
able hours  for  several  years  prior  to  the  Revolution.    In 
1775  he  published  a  volume  of  one  hundred  and  eighty 
compact  and  w^ell-filled  pages  of  letter-press,  to  which  are 
appended  fourteen  pages  of  engraved  copperplate  illus- 
trations.    It  was  printed  with  creditable  carefulness  and 
accuracy,  and  published  in  Boston,  by  S.  Hall,  and  is,  in 
all  respects,  a  literary  and  historical  curiosity.     The  title 
is,  "An  Easy  Plan  of  Discipline  for  a  Militia  ;  by  Timothy 
Pickering,  Jr."     The  author  had  evidently  explored  all 
sources  of  information,  and  studied  works  published  in 
England  and  Europe  on  the  subject.     That  style  of  sim- 
plicitv,  plainness,  purity,  and  conciseness,  which  is  the 
last  result  of  culture  and  practice  by  the  best  writers, 
pervades  the  book.     The  details  and  minutise  belonging 
to  the  subject  are  so  expressed  as  to  be  perfectly  clear 
and  intelligible.     In  this  respect  it  is  a  model  perform- 
ance.    Beginning   with  rudimental  definitions  and   de- 
scriptions   of   the    exercise    and    training   of    a    single 
soldier,  descending  to  the  smallest  particular,  as  to  atti- 
tude and  posture,  the  movements  of  the  feet  and  limbs, 
carriage  of  the  body,  and  handling  of  the  gun,  it  lays 
down  all  the  rules  for  a  section,  file,  division  or  platoon, 
company,  battalion,  or  regiment.     As  a  guide  or  hand- 
book it  has  the  appearance  of  completeness  ;  while,  as  a 
directory,  the  numerous  engravings  provide   all  that  is 
needed.     As  a  manual  of  instruction  in  military  drill,  it 
probably  will  stand   comparison   creditably  with   more 
modern  works,  and  is,  at  any  rate,  well  worthy  of  being 
studied  by  all  who  may  be  led  to  treat  of  the  subject. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  9 

In  the  preface  to  the  work  he  acknowledges  that  it  is 
the  production  of  "  a  mere  militia-man,  of  one  who  was 
not  formed  on  the  parade,  or  seen  any  service,"  and  who 
only  claimed  to  have  been  "  somewhat  used  to  fire-arms," 
to  have  "  had  a  little  experience  in  the  militia,"  and  to  be 
"  in  some  degree  acquainted  wdth  the  difficulties  in  train- 
ing up  the  men  to  military  knowledge,"  in  the  short 
time  that  citizen  soldiers  can  give  to  the  subject. 

In  apology  for  some  features  of  the  work,  in  which 
he  departs  from  previous  treatises  on  the  subject,  he 
says  "  custom  and  prejudice  are  the  foundation  of  many 
practices  among  the  military.  Maxims  have  been 
blindly  adopted  without  any  examination  of  the  prin- 
ciples on  which  they  are  founded."  "  If  we  attend  to 
any  other  arts,  the  same  absurdities  will  appear.  Many 
customs  are  followed,  and  laws  observed,  when  their 
origin  is  unknown,  and  their  reason  has  ceased  to  exist." 
In  this  connection  he  adduces  an  illustration  which  has 
been  singularly  repeated  in  our  day.  "  It  seems  that 
the  Prussians  were  the  first  who,  in  the  present  century, 
ventured  to  depart  from  the  old-established  form  of  ex- 
ercise ;  and  their  amazing  victories  under  their  present 
King  having  astonished  all  Europe,  every  nation  was 
emulous  to  imitate  that  discipline  by  which  such  won- 
ders were  performed."  He  then  mentions  the  principal 
reforms  in  the  English  service,  thus  instigated  by  the 
example  of  Prussia,  and  proceeds  to  point  out  various 
particulars  in  which  still  further  reformation  is  needed, 
and  which  it  is  the  design  of  his  book  to  introduce. 
The  preface  concludes  as  follows  :  "  I  have  endeavored 
to  explain  every  part  of  the  exercise  minutely,  and  with 
the  utmost  clearness  and  certainty  of  expression.     Some 


10  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

indeed  may  think  me  in  many  cases  too  triflingly  partic- 
ular, but  I  have  inserted  nothing  but  what,  when 
the  miHtary  art  was  entirely  new  to  me,  would  have 
been  very  acceptable,  and  have  saved  me  much  time 
and  study.  If  the  work,  such  as  it  is,  shall  facilitate, 
to  the  officers  and  others  in  the  militia,  the  getting  an 
acquaintance  with  the  military  art,  and  so  prove  ben- 
eficial to  my  country,  I  shall  obtain  my  highest  wish." 

Following  the  title,  in  the  second  edition,  is  this  copy 
of  record  :  — 

"  Massachusetts  Bay  in  Council,  May  1st,  1776. 

"  Whereas,  the  Plan  of  Military  Discipline,  lately  pub- 
lished by  Timothy  Pickering,  Esq.,  appears  to  this  Court  to 
be  well  adapted  to  the  use  and  practice  of  a  militia,  as  it 
contains  all  the  motions  in  the  manual  exercise  that  are  nec- 
essary and  useful,  and  is  not,  like  the  64th  Norfolk  and 
others,  clogged  with  many  superfluous  motions,  which  only 
serve  to  burden  the  memory  and  perplex  the  learner ;  and 
it  also  contains  many  useful  manoeuvres,  &c.,  not  published 
in  the  64th.     Therefore, 

*'  It  is  resolved.  That  the  aforesaid  Plan  of  Exercise,  pub- 
lished by  Timothy  Pickering,  Esq.,  shall  for  the  future  be 
used  and  practised  by  the  militia  of  this  colony  :  and  all  offi- 
cers thereof  are  hereby  directed  and  enjoined  to  use  the 
same  ;  and  to  instruct  and  exercise  the  soldiers  under  their 
command  respectively,  agreeable  to  the  said  plan,  in  all  their 
j)ublic  trainings  and  musters  accordingly. 

"  Sent  down  for  concurrence.  John  Lowell,  Deputy  Sec- 
retar}^,  pro  tern. 

"  In  the  House  of  Representatives,  read  and  concurred. 
Samuel  Freeman,  Speaker,  pro  tem^ 

Colonel  Pickering  sent  letters  accompanying  his  book 
to  the  generals  commanding  continental  troops  at  differ- 
ent junctures  and  positions,  as  they  gathered  to  the 
opening  scenes  of  the  w^ar.     They  are  found  among  his 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   nCKERING.  11 

manuscripts,  addressed  to  Generals  Heath,  Thomas, 
Charles  Lee,  Ward,  and  Washington.  The  two  last 
are  here  given  :  — 

To   THE   HONOEABLE   GeNEKAL   WAED. 

"  Sir, 
"  The  ensuing  plan  of  discipline,  though,  through  number- 
less avocations  and  interruptions,  hut  just  completed,  was 
begun  soon  after  the  Exercise,  ordered  by  his  Majesty  in  1764, 
was  recommended  by  the  Provincial  Congress  to  be  used  in 
the  militia.  This  Exercise,  though  well  enough  adapted  to 
persons  already  versed  in  the  military  art,  was  yet  far  too 
obscure  for  the  instruction  of  men  to  whom  the  discipline  of 
war  was  novel.  At  first,  however,  I  supposed  a  few  explana- 
tions might  render  it  "sufficiently  clear  and  intelligible.  But, 
upon  examining  that  and  the  Norfolk  Discipline,  I  imagined, 
by  the  help  of  both  and  other  aids,  a  plan  might  be  framed, 
which,  for  a  militia,  should  be  preferable  to  either.  Hence  I 
was  induced  to  attempt  the  following  work,  little  thinking,  at 
that  time,  my  fellow-countrymen  would  so  soon  be  called 
forth  to  actual  ser^dce,  and  believmg  a  well-disciphned  militia 
to  be  the  most  effectual  means  of  preventing  our  present 
unhappy  conflict  in  arms.  Of  the  merit  of  the  work  it  belongs 
not  to  me  to  decide.  I  assure  myself,  however,  that  it  may 
facilitate  to  the  militia  the  learning  the  military  art ;  and,  con- 
sidering the  circumstances  under  which  the  army  has  been 
formed,  even  there^  to  many  it  may  not  be  unprofitable.  In 
either  case.  Sir,  particularly  the  latter,  it  has,  perhaps,  some 
claim  to  your  patronage.  I  wish  my  abilities  and  experience 
had  been  equal  to  the  production  of  a  work  more  worthy  of 
your  notice.  But  should  I,  unhappily,  have  entirely  mistaken 
my  proper  talents  and  business,  yet,  a  candid  mind  will,  at 
least,  excuse  a  well-meant  though  fruitless  attempt  to  serve 
one's  country.  I  am,  with  great  respect,  your  Honor's  most 
obedient  and  humble  servant, 

"T.  Pickering,  Jr. 


12  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

To  His  Excellency  General  Washington. 

Sir, 
Convinced  of  the  utility,  the  necessity,  at  all  times,  of  a 
well-disciplined  militia,  to  every  free  state  ;  when  the  united 
wisdom  of  the  continent,  referring  to  the  contest  with  the 
parent  kingdom,  called  on  every  colonist  to  prepare  for  the 
most  unhappy  events  ;  and  the  more  immediate  recommenda- 
tions of  our  Provincial  Congress  demanded  a  diligent  api)lica- 
tion  to  the  military  art ;  deeming  the  plans  of  discipline  then 
extant  inadequate  for  the  instruction  of  men,  unused  to  this 
kind  of  study,  and  destitute  of  living  instructors,  I  gladly 
embraced  the  opportunity  which  then  presented,  of  applying 
to  the  service  of  my  country  the  little  knowledge  and  experi- 
ence an  office  in  the  militia  had  led  me  to  acquire,  by  writing 
the  following  plain  rudiments  of  the  militar}^  art.  They  were 
designed,  as  their  title  imports,  merely  for  the  militia,  and 
chiefly  written  before  the  predicted  '  unhappy  events '  had 
called  my  fellow-citizens  to  arms.  This  call,  and  the  various 
avocations  and  interruptions  subsequent  thereon,  greatly 
retarded  the  completion  of  the  work ;  and  perhaps  have 
rendered  it  less  useful  than  it  might  otherwise  have  been. 
Some  parts  of  it,  and  those  perhaps  the  most  'essential,  I 
imagine,  however,  may  still  prove  advantageous  in  an  army 
hastily  assembled,  and  frequently  called  from  the  exercise  of 
arms  to  the  other  equally  necessary,  but  more  laborious,  occu- 
pations of  war.  This  army  being,  to  the  joy  of  every 
American,  committed  to  your  Excellency's  care  and  direction, 
both  duty  and  inclination  lead  me  to  present  you  the  ensuing 
plan  of  discipline  for  a  militia,  and  to  submit  to  your  decision 
the  expediency  of  recommending  or  j)ermitting  its  use  among 
the  officers  and  soldiers  under  your  command. 

"  I  am.  Sir,  your  Excellency's  most  obedient  and  humble 
servant, 

"  Timothy  Pickering,  Jr." 

The  pre-existing  authorities  in  the  British  service, 
referred  to  as  "  the  64th  "  and  "  Norfolk  "  Exercise,  are 
examined  in  Colonel  Pickering's  book,  and  the  particu- 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  ]3 

lars  pointed  out  in  which  he  varies  from  them.  In  1757, 
the  militia  of  England  was  put  upon  a  new  footing,  and, 
from  the  special  interest  taken  in  the  subject  at  the  time, 
some  gentlemen  of  Norfolk  County  were  led  to  compile 
a  work  called  the  "Norfolk  Exercise."  In  1764,  the 
militia  was  reorganized,  and  placed  under  the  direction 
of  a  new  "  Exercise,"  ordered  into  use  by  Koyal  author- 
ity. In  the  American  service  Colonel  Pickering's  book  at 
once  became  the  accredited  manual,  and  remained  so  in 
the  army  of  the  Revolution,  until  superseded  by  Baron 
Steuben's  "  Regulations  for  the  Infantry  of  the  United 
States,"  which  work,  when  offered  to  Washington  by 
the  Baron,  was  referred  to  the  examination  of  Colonel 
Pickering,  The  estimation  in  which  his  knowledge  of 
military  science  was  held  by  Steuben,  as  well  as  by 
Washington,  is  shown  in  the  documents  quoted  in  the 
preceding  volume  (p.  236).  The  "  Regulations "  of 
Baron  Steuben  were  the  result  of  the  latest  and  widest 
experience  of  European  armies  ;  and  the  cordial  and 
earnest  recommendation  of  them,  as  a  substitute  for  his 
own  "  Easy  Plan,"  is  one  of  the  most  honorable  acts  of 
Colonel  Pickering's  life. 

When  all  the  circumstances  that  have  been  related  of 
Colonel  Pickering's  extraordinary  exertions,  for  several 
years  before  the  Revolutionary  war  began,  to  put  his 
countrymen  into  a  state  of  preparation  for  the  defence, 
in  arms,  of  their  rights  and  liberties,  are  thoughtfully 
considered,  particularly  in  the  composition  and  publica- 
tion of  the  work  just  described,  it  cannot  be  doubted 
that  he  foresaw  the  approaching  conflict,  in  the  battle- 
field, with  the  mother  country.  It  came  earlier  than 
he    expected    it ;     and    there    is,    indeed,    no    express 


14  LIFE   OF   TIM0TH7  PICKERING. 

indication  of  bis  expecting  it,  but  it  cannot  but  be 
inferred  from  all  bis  proceedings,  and  it  seems  to 
underlie  many  of  tbe  pbrases  found  in  bis  writings.  At 
any  rate,  it  is  not  to  be  doubted  tbat  some  migbty 
cominj;  event  was  foresbadowed  on  bis  mind. 

In  a  letter  to  bis  nepbew,  Jobn  Clark,  tben  about  to 
graduate  at  Harvard  College,  dated  June  lotb,  1774, 
tbere  is,  for  instance,  a  passage  wbicb  sbows  tbat  be 
foresaw  some  approacbing  conflict,  some  momentous 
crisis,  and  bow  wonderfully  be  bebeld,  as  in  propbetic 
vision,  tbe  destiny  of  America.  Tbe  letter,  as  well  as 
Clark's  reply,  are  interesting  documents.  As  a  long 
time  bad  elapsed  since  bearing  from  bis  nepbew, 
tbe  uncle  adopted  tbe  playful  device  of  considering  tbat 
be  must  bave  departed  tbis  life,  and  addressed  bis  letter 
to  "tbe  gbost"  of  Clark.  Tbe  answer  is  in  tbe  same 
vein,  and  botb  are  pleasing  specimens  of  classic 
ingenuity  and  elegance.  Tbe  uncle  urges  bim  to  return 
to  tbe  terrestrial  scene.  "  I  adjure  you  by  all  tbat  is 
valuable  in  life  to  quit  every  pursuit  wbicb  sball  prevent 
your  restoration  to  me,  to  your  friends,  and  to  your 
country.'"  Tbe  idea  covertly  conveyed  is  tbat  tbe  young 
scbolar  must  not  allow  an  overweening  devotion  to  tbe 
muses,  and  an  exclusive  converse  witb  tbe  writings  of 
tbe  great  pbilosopbers  and  poets,  beroes  and  patriots,  of 
past  ages,  to  prevent  bis  taking  an  earnest  interest  in 
wbat  was  tben  transpiring  in  tbe  living  world.  He  uses 
tbis  remarkable  language, — 

''  Too  long  a  converse  with  departed  souls  has  reduced 
you  to  your  present  state.  Heroes  and  patriots,  they  once 
lived  to  bless  mankind,  to  save  them  from  sinking  under 
the    heavy  hand    of    power,  to    make    them  wise  and   vir- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  15 

tuous ;  and  having  acted  well  their  parts,  they  left  the 
theatre  of  life  to  dwell  among  the  gods.  But  yon  are 
yet  too  young  to  quit  the  stage  for  ever.  Besides,  a  groic- 
ing  empire  opens  to  our  vieiu.  America  now  demands  the 
genius^  learning^  and  virtue  of  all  her  sons.  Either  slavery 
will  make  one  universal  blot ;  or  heroes  and  patriots  of  this 
Western  loorld  will  grace  the  annals  of  the  present  age."" 

In  view  of  such  facts  and  considerations  as  the  fore- 
going, Colonel  Pickering's  connection  with  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  in  his  thoughts,  feelings,  and  labors,  must  be 
regarded  as  dating  back  long  prior  to  1775.  His  service 
in  that  war  itself  may  be  dated  from  the  26th  of  February 
of  that  year,  when,  as  the  newly  elected  Colonel  of 
the  Essex  Militia,  he  naturally  took  a  leading  part  in  the 
spontaneous  and  successful  rising  of  the  people,  at  the 
North  Bridge  in  Salem,  to  prevent  Leslie's  battalion  of 
British  troops  from  marching  into  the  country  beyond  it, 
to  seize  some  military  stores  collected  by  the  patriots. 

While  engaged  in  his  duties  as  Register  of  Deeds, 
and  w^riting  at  his  desk  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock 
in  the  forenoon  of  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  Captain 
Epes,  of  the  Danvers  company  of  his  regiment,  brought 
the  Colonel  intelligence  that  a  body  of  Britisli  troops, 
having  crossed  from  Boston  under  cover  of  the  night, 
was  early  on  its  march  towards  Lexington,  and  had 
attacked  the  militia.  He  ordered  Epes  to  start  his  com- 
pany instantly  towards  the  scene,  while  he,  as  soon  as 
possible,  would  collect  such  other  forces  as  he  could, 
and  follow  on.  Going  down  to  the  centre  of  the  town, 
he  issued  orders  forthwith,  and,  as  Colonel  of  the  regi- 
ment, chairman  of  the  Selectmen,  and  member  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  succeeded,  notwithstanding  objec- 
tions made  by  many  that  the  distance  was  so  great  as  to 


16  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

render  tlie  movement  unnecessary,  in  collecting  a  consid- 
erable portion  of  his  regiment,  with  which  he  started  at 
once.  Halting,  for  some  twenty  minutes,  near  Bell's 
tavern,  in  Dan  vers,  now  Peabody,  to  put  his  men  in 
order  for  the  march,  he  pushed  on  over  the  old  road  to 
Lvnn.  A  short  respite  was  given  there  by  the  side  of  a 
pebbly  brook,  wliich  is  still  pointed  out,  where  the  men 
cooled  their  heated  feet.  Upon  reaching  Winter  Hill, 
he  first  saw  the  smoke  arising  from  the  road  along  which 
the  enemv  was  retreating.  He  ordered  his  men  to  load 
and  prime,  and  hastened  them  on  towards  Medford. 
Before  reaching  that  place,  a  messenger  from  General 
Heath  brought  directions  not  to  advance  further,  at 
that  moment ;  but  by  a  halt,  to  avoid  the  fire  of  the  Brit- 
ish field-pieces,  then  nearing  that  point.  Mounting  his 
horse,  the  Colonel  galloped  forward  to  meet  Heath  for 
consultation.  It  was  then  sunset,  but  they  could  see 
the  last  of  the  enemy's  forces  passing  into  Charlestown, 
and  beyond  reach. 

In  the  preceding  volume  notice  is  taken  of  the 
attempts,  suggested  by  subsequent  party  rancor,  and 
countenanced  in  certain  political  quarters,  to  bring 
censure  upon  Colonel  Pickering  for  not  getting  to 
the    scene  of  action  earlier. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  stronger  illustration  of 
the  effect  of  partisan  prejudice  to  warp  the  judgment, 
and  pervert  the  mind,  than  this  calumny.  It  was  ever 
regarded  as  such  by  all  who  really  knew  the  circum- 
stances of  the  occasion.  It  was  denounced  by  his  offi- 
cers and  men,  and  his  fellow- citizens  generally,  at  the 
time  when  it  was  first  started,  and  at  all  times.  Vener- 
able persons,  who  followed  him  on  this  march,  but  had 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERIXG.  17 

ill  later  years  become  ranked  amono:  his  most  vehement 
political  opponents,  while  standing  around  the  grave, 
which  more  than  a  half-century  afterwards  received  his 
honored  remains,  expressed,  in  my  hearing,  the  indig- 
nation with  which  they  looked  back  upon  this  most 
unjust  charge. 

Whoever  examines  the  route  pursued  from  Salem,  will 
have  no  other  sentiment  than  surprise,  that  the  force  led 
bv  Pickerino^  could  have  reached  Medford  as  soon  as 
it  did.  The  distance,  as  the  road  then  ran  and  as  given 
in  the  almanacs  at  the  time,  was  eighteen  miles.  The 
companies,  collected  at  Salem,  could  not  possibly  have 
started  before  the  middle  of  the  forenoon.  The  sun 
shone  all  day  from  a  clear  and  cloudless  sky,  and  it 
was  warm  even  to  sultriness.  It  is  known  to  all  how 
oppressive  such  weather  is,  thus  prematurely  occurring, 
while  heavy  winter  clothing  is  still  worn,  and  the  body 
has  not  yet  been  acclimated  to  summer  temperature. 
Gathered,  literally,  at  a  moment's  warning,  from  the 
midst  of  their  ordinary  occupations  and  labors,  the  men 
were  hurriedly  prepared,  unprovided  with  conveniences 
for  their  comfort  or  sustenance  by  the  way.  Frequently 
they  were  met  by  intelligence  that  the  British  had  gone 
back  to  Boston,  and  that  the  crisis  was  over.  But  not 
being  absolutely  sure  of  its  correctness,  and  with  a 
determination  to  render  service  if  needed,  —  at  any  rate, 
to  give  evidence  of  their  devotion  to  the  cause,  —  this 
patriotic  and  heroic  body  of  men,  worn  and  hungry  as 
they  were,  held  on  with  unremitted  resolution,  zeal, 
and  speed.  With  occasional  slight  pauses,  to  give  the 
officers  opportunity  to  confer  as  to  the  direction  to  be 
pursued  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  the  day,  for  they  were 

Vol.  II.  2 


18  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

ignorant  of  the  precise  point  or  line  where  the  enemy 
might  be  most  speedily  or  eiFectually  met,  they  really 
made  no  considerable  halt  until  they  reached  Medford. 
The  companies  belonging  to  Uanvers,  whom  the  Colonel 
had  ordered  to  proceed  at  once,  without  waiting  for 
him  to  collect  the  residue  of  the  regiment,  were  in  time 
to  encounter  the  retreating  enemy,  and  rendered  the 
most  efficient  service.  No  men  —  at  least,  no  organ- 
ized body  of  men  —  travelled,  that  day,  any  thing  like 
an  equal  distance  to  that  accomplished  by  this  portion 
of  Colonel  Pickering's  regiment,  and  which  succeeded  in 
engaging  in  the  fight.  The  fact  stands,  a  glorious  mon- 
ument of  their  earnest  enthusiasm  and  noble  daring,  that 
the  number  of  killed  and  wounded  belonging  to  Danvers 
surpassed  that  of  any  other  tow^n  but  Lexington  itself. 
More  than  a  quarter  part  of  all  the  provincials  who  fell 
belonged  to  Colonel  Pickering's  regiment,  none  of  whom 
could  have  reached  the  line  of  conflict  until  far  in 
the  afternoon ;  demonstrating  the  prompt  bravery  with 
which  they  exposed  themselves.  All  these  things  con- 
sidered, it  is  indeed  surprising  that  such  a  calumny 
should  have  ever  been  entertained.  The  truth  is,  that 
it  was  natural  for  all  to  have  regretted  that  the  residue 
of  the  regiment  was  just  too  late  to  render  decisive 
service  in  cutting  off  the  flight  of  the  Koyal  troops. 
That  regret,  in  the  minds  of  some  unacquainted  with 
the  circumstances,  was  allowed  to  assume  the  form  of 
complaint.  The  matter  was  fully  investigated,  and 
justice  done  to  the  conduct  of  Colonel  Pickering  and 
his   gallant  companies. 

They  remained  at  Medford  that  night,  guarding  the 
bridge,  and    prepared   for   any   exigency.      The   next 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  19 

morning  Colonel  Pickering  attended  a  council  of  offi- 
cers at  Cambridge.  Under  the  excitement  of  the 
preceding  day,  —  while  their  blood  was  up, — it  was 
urged  by  some  to  attack  the  British  in  Boston  forth- 
with. Colonel  Pickering  resisted  the  proposal,  showing 
how  useless  it  would  be  to  get  foothold  in  Boston,  and 
how  vain  to  try  to  hold  it,  while  surrounded  by  the 
enemy's  frigates.  He  maintained  if  any,  the  first  and 
only  thing  to  be  done,  was  an  assault  upon  Castle  Island, 
now  Fort  Independence.  Any  one  examining  the  map 
of  Boston  and  its  environs,  and  the  chart  of  its  harbor, 
channels,  soundings,  and  islands,  will  appreciate  at  a 
glance  the  folly  of  the  project  proposed,  and  the  military 
skill  and  acumen  of  Pickering,  in  preferring,  in  the 
first  instance,  an  attempt  upon  Castle  Island.  It  might, 
perhaps,  at  that  moment  of  confusion,  and  while  the 
enemv  had  not  recovered  from  the  shock  of  the  disas- 
trous  conflict  and  retreat  of  the  preceding  day,  have 
succeeded.  The  stroke,  if  successful,  would  have 
astounded  the  Royal  forces,  and  attracted  the  admiration 
of  the  world.  It  would  have  equalled  in  brilliancy  the 
storming  of  Stony  Point,  at  a  subsequent  period  of  the 
war,  or  any  similar  achievement  in  history.  It  would 
have  compelled,  if  not  the  immediate  surrender,  an 
instant  flight,  and  at  great  loss,  of  the  British  ships 
and  troops,  and  the  first  decisive  step  in  the  progress  of 
the  Revolutionary  contest,  the  evacuation  of  Boston, 
been  antedated  nearly  a  year.  But  nothing  was  con- 
cluded upon  but  to  hold  their  position,  organize  their 
forces,  and  await  events.  The  Essex  troops  returned 
to  their  homes,  and  remained,  as  minute  men,  to  answer 
any  call  that  might  be  made. 


20  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

In  addition  to  Colonel  Pickering's  duties  as  Eegister 
of  Deeds,  Chairman  of  the  Selectmen  of  Salem,  Town 
Clerk,  and  leading  member  of  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
the  Provincial  Government  of  Massachusetts  commis- 
sioned him  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Judge  of  the  Court 
of  Common  Pleas  for  the  county,  and  sole  Judge  of 
Admiralty  for  the  district  comprising  Boston,  Marble- 
head,  Salem,  Beverly,  Gloucester,  and  Newburyport. 
While  he  held  the  last-named  office  he  adjudicated 
upon  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  prize  cases.  During 
the  period  occupied  by  these  multifarious  public  trusts, 
besides  private  business,  he  finished  the  preparation  for 
the  press  and  published  his  "  Plan  of  Discipline  for  a 
Militia." 

In  January,  1776,  it  having  been  ascertained  that,  on 
account  of  the  extent  to  which  the  population  of  Salem 
had  been  drained  by  the  response  of  the  people  to  pre- 
vious calls  into  the  military  and  naval  service,  it  was 
impossible  to  raise  the  quota  assigned  to  the  place  by 
an  order  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  Colonel  Pickering 
and  others  organized  a  volunteer  company,  and,  in  a 
letter  to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  proffered  their  service, 
without  pay,  during  the  period  for  which  the  levy  was 
to  be  raised,  to  assist  in  manning  the  lines  at  Cambridge 
and  Roxbury.  The  answer  of  Washington  shows  how 
highly  he  appreciated  this  patriotic  act. 

In  May,  of  this  year.  Colonel  Pickering  was  elected 
a  representative  from  Salem  in  the  General  Court,  on 
the  distinctly  announced  readiness  of  the  town  to  sus- 
tain a  Declaration,  by  Congress,  of  the  Independence  of 
the  American  Colonies.  Soon  after  this  the  provincial 
government  appointed  him  to  the  command  of  a  special 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  21 

force  to  be  raised  for  "  a  sea-coast  defence  "  of  Salem  and 
the  yicinity.  In  Jnly  the  General  Court  passed  an  act  to 
bring  into  the  field  one-quarter  part  of  the  whole  pop- 
ulation of  the  Colony  capable  of  bearing  arms,  to  re-en- 
force the  Continental  army,  at  a  moment  of  extreme 
exigency.  Steps  to  carry  out  the  measure  were  taken 
with  as  much  speed  as  possible  throughout  the  Colony  ; 
but  considerable  time  was  required  to  make  the  neces- 
sary arrangements,  to  organize  companies  and  regiments, 
and  furnish  suitable  equipments  and  supplies  for  so 
large  a  force.  It  was  a  great  strain  upon  the  resources 
of  a  population  scattered  over  farming  districts  and 
along  the  coasts,  and  whose  necessary  occupations,  at 
that  season  of  the  year,  required  their  presence  in  gath- 
ering the  harvests  of  land  and  sea.  Extraordinary 
efforts  and  sacrifices  were  demanded,  and  extraordinary 
means  were  to  be  used  to  rouse  and  stimulate  the  peo- 
ple to  meet  the  great  emergency. 

At  the  summons  of  Colonel  Pickering  the  inhabitants 
of  Salem  assembled  in  the  meeting-house  of  the  First 
Church.  He  went  up  into  the  pulpit  and  addressed 
them,  laying  before  them  fully  and  plainly  the  then 
critical  and  all  but  desperate  condition  of  affairs,  refer- 
ring to  the  defeat  on  Long  Island,  the  disastrous  inci- 
dents in  New  York  and  its  neighborhood,  and  the  retreat 
of  Washington  with  his  shattered  and  dissohdng  army 
into  the  Jerseys.  It  was  the  gloomiest  moment  of  the 
Revolutionary  struggle.  He  urged  the  duty  of  all  pa- 
triots to  rush  to  the  rescue  with  undaunted  spirit,  and  by 
freely  and  bravely  devoting  their  utmost  energies  and 
resources  to  the  hour,  retrieve  the  cause.  Xow,  he 
said,  was  the  time  for  heroic  men  to  show  themselves. 


22  LIFE   OP^   TIMOTHY   PICKEIUNG. 

• 

To  save  the  country,  business,  home,  and  family  must 
be  given  up.  He  urged  volunteers  to  come  forward, 
and  led  the  way ;  declaring  that  he,  that  moment, 
enlisted  for  the  service  ;  and,  coming  down  from  the 
pulpit,  called  upon  all  to  follow  him.  He  marched 
through  the  aisles  of  the  old  church  with  a  drum,  it 
is  said,  beating  before  him.  As  he  went,  pew  doors 
opened,  old  men  and  young,  one  by  one,  came  out  and 
fell  in.  Many  leading  citizens,  sea-captains,  with  their 
mates  and  sailors,  men  of  business,  caught  the  enthusi- 
asm of  the  scene,  and,  after  completing  the  traverse  of 
the  aisles,  he  passed  out  into  the  street,  the  full  quota  of 
the  town  following  him. 

The  painter  and  the  poet  will  regard  this  as  one  of 
the  historic  spectacles  of  that  great  war.  The  vast  and 
venerable  church,  with  its  double  row  of  galleries;  the 
crowded,  anxious,  and  excited  assembly ;  the  noble  form 
of  Pickering,  as  he  strode  through  the  aisles  ;  the  sturdy 
and  weather-beaten  seamen  and  master- mariners  ;  the 
merchants,  mechanics,  and  men  of  all  classes,  rising 
from  their  pews  and  benches,  and  joining  him  as  he 
passed  ;  the  whole  mixed  multitude  expressing  in  their 
countenances  and  attitudes  the  glowing  patriotism  and 
devotion  to  their  imperilled  country  to  which  they  had 
all,  old  and  young,  men,  women,  and  children,  been 
wrought  up,  —  supply  materials  to  the  canvas  or  the 
page,  rarely  equalled. 

The  ranks  of  the  regiment  were  filled  up  from  other 
towns  in  the  county  of  Essex,  and  Pickering  was  com- 
missioned as.  its  Colonel.  Having  been  fully  organized, 
equipped,  and  provided,  it  started  from  Salem,  on  the 
24th  of  December,  1776,  and  reached   Providence   on 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  23 

the  26tli,  where  it  was  detained  by  order  of  General 
Lincohi,  who  met  it  there.  On  the  30th  it  left  Provi- 
dence, and  pursued  its  march  through  Rhode  Island 
and  Connecticut,  reaching  Danbury,  by  way  of  Hart- 
ford, on  the  2d  of  January,  1777.  Colonel  Pickering 
was  ordered  to  remain  there  until  the  13th,  to  put  in 
order  and  forward  troops  as  they  arrived.  He  then  pro- 
ceeded to  Bradford.  N.  Y.,  and  passing  through  North 
Castle,  arrived  at  Tarrytown  on  the  1-lth,  where  he  came 
under  the  command  of  General  Heath.  On  the  16th 
of  February  his  regiment  crossed  the  Hudson  at  King's 
Ferry.  For  more  than  a  month  it  had  been  eno^a^ed 
in  the  most  arduous  kind  of  service,  —  skirmishing  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Independence,  then  strongly 
held  by  the  British.  It  was  often  under  fire,  but  no 
regular  battle  took  place.  The  weather  was  of  the 
worst  kind  for  military  or  field  operations,  an  alternation 
of  snow  and  rain,  boisterous  and  most  uncomfortable. 
The  regiment  w^as,  for  the  most  part,  literally  on  fatigue 
duty  ;  foraging,  marching  to  and  fro,  feeling  the  out- 
posts of  the  enemy,  without  shelter  or  rest,  and  often 
suffering  for  food  and  adequate  clothing.  Colonel  Pick- 
ering shared  all  the  toils  and  privations  of  his  men, 
bivouacking  with  them  in  the  w^oods,  fields,  and  on  the 
roadsides,  sleeping  sometimes  on  the  floors  of  houses  or 
barns,  but  often  on  the  bare  frozen  s^round.  The  res^i- 
ment  was  constantly  on  the  move,  changing  its  position 
and  route,  as  orders  reached  it.  It  was  the  custom  of 
the  Colonel  to  strap  his  pack  and  blanket  to  his  back, 
and  march,  on  foot,  by  the  side  of  the  rank  and  file, 
while  some  more  weary  and  worn  officer  or  private  rode 
his  horse.     By  thus  sharing  their  fatigues,  he  encour- 


24  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

aged  their   spirits  and  kept   them    more   cheerfully  to 
their   work. 

Leaving  the  Hudson,  the  regiment  reached  Bound 
Brook,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Morristown,  N.  J., 
General  Washington's  head-quarters,  on  the  21st  of 
February. 

The  time  of  their  service  having  expired.  Colonel 
Pickering's  regiment  started  for  home  on  the  21st  of 
March.  He  followed  them  the  next  day,  and  arrived  at 
Salem  on  the  1st  of  April.  The  journey  was  mostly 
by  the  saddle,  although,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  obtain- 
ing horses,  often  on  foot.  On  one  particular  day  he 
walked  twenty  miles,  and  also  parts  of  other  days. 

During  the  month  that  this  regiment  was  connected 
with  the  army  at  head-quarters,  the  Commander-in-Chief 
had  frequent  opportunities  to  notice  the  bearing  and 
observe  the  character  of  its  Colonel ;  and  in  no  instance 
did  Washington  more  strikingly  demonstrate  the  faculty 
of  judging  of  men,  for  w^hich  he  was  so  remarkable, 
than  in  this.  The  confidence  he  placed  in  Pickering, 
shown  ever  afterwards  through  the  war  and  his  civil 
administration,  was  then  inspired.  A  week  after  he 
left  camp  the  General  wrote  a  letter  tendering  him 
the  office  of  Adjutant-General  of  the  Army  of  the  United 
States,  and  enclosing,  in  case  of  his  declining  to  accept 
the  situation,  a  tender  of  the  office  to  Colonel  William 
Lee,  also  of  Massachusetts.  Washington's  account  of  the 
transaction  is  in  a  letter  to  the  President  of  Congress, 
dated  May  24,  1777.  The  circumstances  connected 
with  it,  and  the  correspondence  between  the  parties,  so 
honorable  to  them  all,  having  been  presented  in  the 
previous    volume,  need  no    recapitulation   here.      The 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERIXG.  25 

result  was  that  Pickering  finally  accepted  the  appoint- 
ment. The  conclusion  to  which  he  was  led  was  reached 
through  a  conflict  of  motives  that  appealed  to  the  strong- 
est principles  and  deepest  sentiments  of  his  nature. 

The  property  of  his  family  consisted  mostly  of  real 
estate,  of  which  his  only,  but  elder,  brother  w^ould, 
according  to  the  law  and  usage  of  that  day,  inherit  two- 
thirds.  A  large  number  of  sisters,  all  w^ith  families  of 
their  own,  would  have  their  respective  shares  of  w^hat 
personal  estate  there  might  be,  on  the  death  of  his 
parents,  who  were  quite  aged  and  needed  his  presence. 
With  a  wife  and  infant  child  —  born  while  he  w^as  on 
his  w^ay,  three  months  before,  w^ith  his  regiment  to  join 
the  army  of  Washington  —  it  was  necessary  for  him  to 
look  to  his  own  exertions  for  a  competent  support. 
The  duty  of  making  provision  for  one's  own  family  was 
always  regarded  by  him  as  a  sacred  obligation.  His 
only  reliance  w^as  in  the  emoluments  of  the  clerical 
offices  he  held,  and  in  what  might  be  derived  from  his 
profession  as  a  law^yer  ;  but  these  could  reasonably  be 
regarded  as  a  sufficient  and  sure  resource.  The  aban- 
donment of  these  positions  and  of  prospective  legal 
practice  would  involve  the  loss  of  all  he  had  or  could 
expect.  The  confidence,  however,  expressed  by  Wash- 
ington, so  much  above  his  owm  estimate  of  his  abilities, 
the  urgency  of  the  call,  and  his  deep  sense  of  patriotic 
duty,  overcame  all  reluctance,  all  scruples,  and  all  per- 
sonal and  domestic  considerations.  His  friends  and 
fellow-citizens  generally  throughout  the  county  appre- 
ciated the  sacrifice  he  made,  and  gave  assurance  that  at 
the  end  of  his  military  service  the  office  of  Eegister  of 
Deeds  should  revert  to  him ;  a  pledge  that  would  have 


26  LITE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

been  redeemed  by  the  voice  of  the  whole  people  had  the 
course  of  events  brought  him  back  to  his  native  home. 

He  left  Salem  on  tlie  2d  of  June,  1777,  and  reached 
head-quarters,  at  Middlebrook,  N.  J.,  on  the  17th. 
The  services  on  which  he  then  entered,  in  connection 
with  the  army,  were  so  uninterrupted  and  engrossing 
that,  wdth  the  exception  of  one  short,  flying  visit  of  a  few 
days  to  his  family  in  Salem,  he  never  found  a  respite 
long^ enough  to  return  to  Massachusetts,  The  office  of 
Adjutant- General  kept  him  by  the  side  of  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, and  made  him,  for  the  time  being,  a 
member  of  his  family.  It  was  a  position  of  great  labor 
and  activity,  of  constant  responsibility,  and,  in  all  battles, 
and  critical  movements  in  front  of  the  foe,  of  much 
exposure.  But,  in  verification  of  his  language  in  a 
letter  to  his  wife,  "  in  the  most  desperate  engagements 
there  are  many  chances  in  favor  of  life," —  although  his 
official  duties  often  called  him,  in  bearing  orders  from 
the  commanding  General,  to  and  fro,  dashing  on  horse- 
back in  front  of  the  enemies'  lines  and  under  fire,  his 
remarkably  observable  figure,  stature,  and  aspect  making 
him  a  conspicuous  mark,  —  he  was  never  wounded. 
This  intimate  connection  with  Washington  constantly 
heightened  his  estimate  of  the  integrity,  prudence,  and 
patriotism  of  that  great  man,  and  laid  deep  the  founda- 
tions of  a  personal  friendship,  that  remained  invulner- 
able, on  both  sides,  until  death  separated  them. 

Yielding  to  the  requirements  of  the  public  service, 
Washington  reluctantly  parted  with  him  as  his  Adjutant- 
General,  w4ien  called  by  Congress  to  the  Board  of  War. 
Delay  occurring  in  the  organization  of  the  Board, 
Colonel  Pickering  continued  to  perform  the  duties  of 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  27 

Adjutant- General,  going  with  the  army  into  its  winter- 
quarters  at  Valley  Forge.  On  the  oOth  of  January, 
1778,  he  finally  left  camp,  and  reached  Yorktown  on 
the  -ith  of  February  to  enter  upon  his  new  position. 
The  Board  of  War  was  composed  at  that  tiuie  of 
the  following  persons :  Generals  Gates  and  Mifflin, 
Colonels  Joseph  Trumbull  and  Timothy  Pickering,  and 
Richard  Peters,  Esquire.  It  had  been  created  by  Con- 
gress in  the  preceding  fall.  Its  duties  were  extremely 
important  and  complicated,  embracing  those  now  per- 
formed by  the  War  Department,  with  extraordinary 
functions  arising  from  the  exigencies  of  the  time,  in  the 
novel  circumstances  of  the  crisis.  It  stood  between 
Congress  and  the  Commander-in-Chief,  communicating 
in  conference  and  formal  written  correspondence  with 
both,  and  devising  and  concerting  all  necessary  arrange- 
ments to  carry  out  the  military  administration  of  affairs. 

Having  been  unanimously  elected  by  Congress  to 
the  office  of  Quartermaster-General,  Colonel  Pickering 
repaired,  on  the  5th  of  August,  1780,  to  head-quarters, 
then  at  Tappan.  The  circumstances  attending  this 
appointment,  as  presented  in  the  previous  volume,  de- 
monstrate the  estimation  in  w4rich  his  energy,  fidelity, 
and  ability  w^ere  held,  as  well  as  the  boldness  of  spirit 
and  patriotism  that  inspired  him  in  encountering  its  im- 
mense responsibility,  and  the  apparently  insurmountable 
difficulties  that  encompassed  it,  at  that  particular  juncture. 

His  immediate  predecessor,  by  universal  acknowledg- 
ment  one  of  the  very  ablest  men  in  the  army  and  the 
countrv,  General  Greene,  had  abandoned  the  office 
from  a  conviction  which  he  had  strongly  and  earnestly 
urged  upon  the  consideration  of  Congress,  that  its  duties 


28  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

were  a  greater  burden  than  ought  to  be  imposed  upon 
any  one  man.  No  reduction  of  them,  however,  was 
deemed  practicable.  Colonel  Pickering  much  preferred 
his  position  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  War,  and  fully 
appreciated  the  complicated  labors  and  discouraging 
perplexities  that  embarrassed  the  action  of  Quarter- 
master-General. He  expressed  to  Congress  the  appre- 
hension that  they  had  over-estimated  his  ability  in 
calling  him  to  the  station,  and  only  yielded  at  last 
to  a  sense  of  public  duty,  in  obeying  the  call. 

He  immediately,  as  the  first  step  to  rescue  his  depart- 
ment from  the  evils  that  were  paralyzing  it  and  threat- 
ening general  disaster,  addressed  an  urgent  appeal  to 
Congress  to  establish  the  principle  that  all  contracts  and 
purchases  for  the  army  should  be  based  upon  specie 
payments.  The  demand  may  be  considered  as  the  con- 
dition upon  which  he  accepted  the  office  ;  and  Congress 
complied  with  it.  The  depreciation  of  the  currency, 
which  had  reached  a  point  that  had  well-nigh  ruined 
the  country,  was  at  once  checked.  Placing  his  admin- 
istration of  the  military  finances  and  resources  of  the 
United  States  on  this  only  solid  basis,  he  carried  his 
policy  firmly  and  safely  through  to  the  end. 

His  labors  were  such  as  would  have  broken  down 
any  one  of  ordinary  strength  and  power  gf  endurance, 
bodily  and  mental.  Besides  foreseeing  and  providing  for 
the  general  wants  of  the  army,  every  transaction  of  the 
minutest  kind,  that  had  involved  expense,  was  ultimately 
subjected  to  his  personal  scrutiny,  and  the  vast  mass  of 
papers  connected  with  the  business  of  his  department, 
still  remaining,  demonstrate  the  enormous  accumulation 
of  contracts,  accounts,  and  reports  of  subordinates  sub- 


LIFE    OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  29 

jected  to  his  examination,  and  the  multifarious  corre- 
spondence  he   conducted. 

By  order  of  Congress,  the  pay  and  rations  of  a 
Brigadier-General,  with  some  additional  items  and  per- 
quisites, constituted  his  emoluments,  while  his  rank 
remained  that  of  a  Colonel.  It  is  a  noticeable  circum- 
stance, quite  in  contrast  with  recent  practice,  that  the 
old  Congress  did  not  shower  the  highest  military 
commissions  broadcast  over  the  land.  Colonel  Pickering 
held  the  eminent  positions  of  Adjutant- General  and 
Quartermaster- General  of  the  army  of  the  United  States, 
being  thus,  during  nearly  the  whole  of  the  War  of  the 
Revolution,  close  to  the  person  and  in  constant  intimate 
counsel  with  the  Commander-in-Chief,  but  never  held  a 
rank  or  title  greater  than  he  bore,  before  the  war  began, 
in  the  Provincial  Militia,  under  a  royal  commission  ; 
and  which  same  rank  and  title  he  won,  subsequently, 
for  himself,  by  raising  a  regiment  in  1776,  marching  at 
its  head,  through  the  snows  of  winter,  and  presenting  it 
to  Washington  in  the  Jerseys.  For  a  long  time  after, 
the  same  economy  of  rank  and  title  was  observed. 
During  the  w^ar  of  1812,  the  head  of  one  of  the  chief 
arms  of  the  service,  the  artillery,  was  a  Brigadier- 
General.  The  title  of  *  Colonel,  for  more  than  half  a 
century,  was  ^o  universally  attached  to  Timothy  Picker- 
ing's name  —  even  when,  in  later  years,  successively,  the 
head  of  different  departments  of  the  Government,  and 
member  of  both  branches  of  Congress,  besides  having  at 
several  times  been  a  Judge  —  that  it  seems  unnatural  to 
separate  it,  and -it  is  therefore  constantly  applied  to  him 
throughout  this  memoir. 

Congress  also  voted  that  he  should  continue,  as  be- 


30  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

fore,  to  bold  his  seat  in  the  Board  of  War,  his  pay  as 
sucli  being  suspended  while  in  office  as  Qiiartermaster- 
General.  His  experience,  counsel,  and  co-operation, 
particularly  in  drafting  paj)ers,  were  considered  so  im- 
portant as  to  render  such  an  arrangement,  in  their  view, 
quite  important. 

The  office  of  Quartermaster- General  w^as  continued 
after  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  the  ratification  of  the 
treaty  of  peace  with  Great  Britain,  and  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica. Much  time  was  required  to  wind  up  its  business. 
Colonel  Pickering  superintended  the  laborious  and  com- 
plicated task  of  bringing  its  widely  scattered  and  multi- 
farious accounts  to  a  final  settlement  and  close.  He 
held  the  office  until  its  abolition  on  the  28th  of  July, 
1785.     That  day  terminated  his  Revolutionary  service. 

It  may  be  mentioned  that  in  December,  1780.  his 
wife  and  family  joined  him  at  Newburgh,  and  continued 
to  be  with  or  near  him,  at  head-quarters  generally,  but 
for  considerable  intervals  of  time  at  Philadelphia,  which 
may  be  regarded  as  having  been  their  chief  and  most 
permanent  abode. 

Colonel  Pickering's  service  in  the  actual  War  of  Inde- 
pendence dates  from  its  first  outbreak  on  the  19th  of 
April,  1775,  when  by  a  forced  march  he  led  so  much  of 
his  regiment  as  could  be  collected  to  Medford.  From 
that  day,  as  Judge  of  Admiralty,  on  the  field  with  a  reg- 
iment he  had  raised  for  the  re-enforcement  of  the  Conti- 
nental army,  as  Washington's  Adjutant-General,  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  War,  and  in  managing  the 
arduous  afi'airs  of  the  Quartermaster's  department,  his 
labors   were   continuous.     This   embraced  a  period  of 


LIFE   OF    TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  31 

more  than  ten  years.  If  we  take  into  the  account,  as 
'it  is  but  reasonable  to  do,  his  extraordinary  activity,  for 
at  least  five  years  antecedent  to  the  conflict  in  arms,  in 
preparing  the  people  for  the  impending  military  crisis, 
the  productions  of  his  pen  in  the  public  prints,  to  this 
end  and  purpose,  the  time  he  spent  in  organizing  and 
drilling  companies  in  Salem  and  the  neighborhood,  and 
the  elaborate  work  he  prepared  and  published  on  the 
subject,  the  design  of  which  was  to  render  the  militia 
an  effective  soldiery  for  the  protection  of  their  civil 
rights,  as  expressed  in  the  motto  on  its  title-page,  '-Men 
who  are  not  in  a  capacity  to  defend  their  Liberties^  will 
certainly  lose  them,"  it  will  be  seen  that  his  prospective 
added  to  his  actual  service  justifies  the  statement,  in  the 
opening  of  this  chapter,  that  Colonel  Pickering's  connec- 
tion with  the  War  of  Independence  covered  a  much  longer 
period  than  the  war  itself.  Well  might  he  say,  at  the 
age  of  forty,  that  his  mature  life  had  all  been  given  to 
his  country. 

The  fact  has  been  stated,  that  from  the  hour  when 
he  started  from  Salem  to  report  at  head-quarters,  as  Ad- 
jutant-General, in  obedience  to  the  call  of  Washington, 
until  a  year  after  the  war  had  closed,  he  had  made  but 
one  visit  to  his  home  in  Salem.  A  few  passages  from 
his  correspondence,  relating  to  that  visit,  will  afford  in- 
teresting details.  His  application  for  leave  of  absence,  ad- 
dressed to  the  President  of  Congress,  was  as  follows :  — 

"  War  Office,  October  8th,  1778. 

"  Sir, 
"  It  being  now  one  year  and  fom-  months  since  I  left  my 
family  and  friends,  having  also  in  that  period  lost  my  father, 
I  am  under  the  necessity  of  requesting  of  Congress  permis- 


32  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

sion  to  go  lioiiie.  This  indulgence  I  hoped  for  in  the  spring, 
but  General  Gates  and  General  Mifflin  being  then  called  from 
the  Board,  I  did  not  ajiply  for  it.  I  would,  if  public  business 
required  it  more  than  at  other  times,  suspend  my  request  still 
longer.  But,  in  that  regard,  it  seems  very  immaterial  when  I 
go  home,  all  seasons  having  hitherto  been  alike  busy.  And 
if  I  return  again,  I  wish  to  do  it  while  the  roads  are  passable, 
and  before  the  severity  of  winter  sets  in  ;  the  rather,  as  I 
should  bring  my  family  with  me,  the  removal  of  which  Avill 
be  impracticable,  if  my  going  home  be  any  longer  post- 
poned. For  the  same  reason  I  should  hasten  back  as  quick 
as  possible." 

The  business  of  the  Board  of  War  delayed  his 
departure  for  some  time,  and  reqmred  more  or  less 
detention  on  the  way;  so  that  he  did  not  reach  Salem 
until  winter  had  set  in,  and  he  could  remain  there 
scarcely  more  than  a  week.  The  following  letter  gives 
an  account  of  his  return.  It  illustrates  the  modes  and 
liabilities  of  travel  at  that  time,  and  gives  a  pleasing 
glance  of  the  character  of  his  first  and  then  only  child, 
John,  born  February  7th,  1777,  Avhose  memory  is  dear  to 
all  who  knew  him.  He  became  one  of  the  most  accom- 
plished citizens,  and  learned  scholars  of  America,  whose 
labors,  as  such,  will  ever  be  gratefully  appreciated  by 
classical  students.  He  was  acknowledged  as  a  peer 
by  the  greatest  philologists  of  his  age. 

"  Philadelphia,  January  1st,  1779. 

"  Dear  Brother, 
"  You  will  perceive  by  the  place  of  this  date  that  we  are 
arrived  at  Philadelphia.  We  got  here  last  Wednesday  even- 
ing, after  encountering  a  variety  of  difficulties,  chiefly  from 
the  unusual  badness  of  the  weather,  which,  with  so  much 
wagoning,  had  made  the  worst  roads  I  ever  saw.  However, 
no  harm  has  happened  to  any  of  us,  save  that  John  has  a 
slight  cold.    Nothing  could  have  accommodated  us  better  than 


o 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  66 

tlie  wagon.  Every  contrivance  for  the  carriage  of  ourselves 
and  baggage  answered  perfectly  well.  All  the  causes  of 
delay  on  the  road  Isaac  can  relate  particularly.  I  regretted 
the  loss  of  time,  and  increased  expenses  by  those  delays,  but 
was  happy  to  find  that  the  mode  of  riding  occasioned  very 
little  fatigue  to  my  wife  and  John.  The  latter  slept  half  the 
time,  and  the  other  half  was  singing  or  enjoying  the  ride, 
and  looking  at  every  object,  as  we  passed,  with  so  much  sat- 
isfaction as  hardly  twice  to  complain  or  appear  discontented. 
We  were  both  surprised  to  find  him  so  extremel}"  quiet.  We 
think  he  has  grown  considerably  fatter  and  heavier  since  we 
set  out.  I  shall  go  into  the  house  I  hired  to-morrow,  when 
we  sliall  have  collected  sufficient  materials  for  commencing 
housekeejDing.  I  should  have  written  to  you  several  times 
on  our  way  hither  ;  but,  as  I  could  only  mention  our  difficul- 
ties and  delays,  I  chose  to  postpone  it,  that  we  only  might 
feel  the  trouble  of  them,  hoping  we  should  arrive  safe  at  last, 
as  we  have  done.  We  heard  twice  on  the  road  of  a  gentle- 
man and  his  family,  from  Rhode  Island,  going  in  a  wagon  to 
this  city,  about  ten  clays  before  us,  who  were  twice  overset 
on  this  side  the  North  River.  The  wagoner,  it  seems,  wanted 
to  return,  but  the  gentleman  said  he  would  not  part  with 
him  on  any  account,  for  he  had  the  singular  faculty  of 
oversetting  them  without  doing  any  hurt.  Perkins  drove 
very  well ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  rocks  and  gullies,  there 
was  scarcelv  a  chance  of  our  oversettins:  during'  the  whole 
journey.  On  account  of  the  detention  I  have  given  Perkins 
something  more  than  he  agreed  for,  together  with  my  woollen 
overalls,  which  were  very  serviceable  on  the  way.  I  think 
sister  GooU  has  the  pieces  of  the  same  cloth  (or  they  were 
left  at  my  house),  which  he  should  have  to  mend  them.  T 
have  paid  Perkins  fifteen  dollars  towards  the  one  hundred  I 
was  to  give  him,  and  drawn  an  order  on  you  for  eighty-five, 
agreeably  to  your  proposal.  The  amount  of  my  expenses  on 
the  journey  is  <£1.34.3,  full  double  what  I  expected."    .    .    . 

He  made  another  short  visit  to  Salem  after  the  close 
of  the  war,  but  before  his  service  as  Quartermaster-Gen- 

VoL  II.  3 


34  LIFK   OF   TIMOTHY  TICKERING. 

oral  of  the    Revolutionary   army  was  concluded.     It  is 
described  in  the  following  passages  of  letters  :  — 

"  Newburgh,  January  12th,  1784. 

''Dear  Sir, 
"  I  have  concluded  to  take  a  ride  to  Massachusetts  while 
there  is  snow  on  the  ground.  On  reflection  I  thought  no 
time  would  be  so  convenient  for  a  year  to  come.  My  brother 
and  Mr.  Williams  have  requested  it,  the  latter  on  commercial 
as  well  as  friendly  accounts.  A  little  public  business  will 
coincide.  I  shall  doubtless  setjDut  to-morrow  morning.  The 
sleighing  is  good,  and  likely  to  continue.  Be  so  good  as  to 
hand  the  enclosed  to  my  wife. 

"  Samuel  Hodgdon,  Esq." 

"  Newburgh,  January  12th,  1784. 

"  My  Dear  Beckey, 
''  About  a  week  since  I  wrote  you  that  I  intended  in  two 
or  three  days  to  set  out  on  a  visit  to  our  friends  at  Boston 
and  Salem  ;  but  I  have  not  been  able  to  do  it.  However, 
to-morrow  I  shall  doubtless  commence  this  journey.  The 
weather  is  severely  cold,  which  makes  good  sleighing.  I 
shall  go  in  a  sleigh  ;  and  as  Major  Coggswell  is  to  be  discharged 
to-day,  he  takes  a  seat  in  my  sleigh.  When  I,  at  first,  con- 
cluded to  make  this  tour,  I  wished  for  John  Pickering,  that 
I  might  carry  and  present  him  to  his  grandmother  and  uncle 
and  to  all  his  relations  ;  but  I  shall  find  perhaps  an  opportu- 
nity hereafter.  I  shall  stay  at  Salem  so  short  a  time  that  I  do 
not  think  a  letter  from  you  can  reach  that  place  before  I 
leave  it.  ...  A  thought  has  occurred  which  I  will  men- 
tion because  I  persuade  myself  you  will  not  only  approve, 
but  be  pleased  with  the  idea.  Among  my  nieces  at  Salem  I 
trust  one  may  be  found  who  will  be  desirous,  or  at  least  con- 
tented, to  visit  Philadelphia,  and  stay  there  till  spring,  or  after 
the  month  of  May.  Should  this  be  the  case,  and  the  sleigh- 
ing continue,  I  shall  certainly  bring  one  of  them  along  with 
me  ;  which  at  the  same  time  will  oblige  me  to  proceed  with- 
out delay  to  Philadelphia,  which  circumstance  you  will  not 
be  displeased  with.  The  assistance  of  such  a  niece  will 
T'elieve  you,  and  her  company  be  agreeable  to  both  of  us. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  55 

..."  I  remain,  my  dear,  in  perfect  health  :  God  grant 
you  and  the  children  the  same  enjojnnent. 

"  I  shall  write  you  from  Boston  or  Salem,  and  return  in 
the  beginning  of  February.  In  the  mean  time  I  remain,  as 
ever,  wholl}-  yours. 

"  Tell  John  and  Tim  they  must  continue  very  good  boys 
that  they  may  not  disprove  the  favorable  accounts  I  shall  give 
of  them  to  their  grandmother,  uncle,  and  aunts.     Adieu  ! 

"  T.  Pickering. 

"  Mns.  R.  Pickering." 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  Colonel  Pickering  in  entering 
upon  the  office  of  Quartermaster-General  was  to  organ- 
ize the  entire  transportation  business  of  the  army  into  a 
distinct  branch  or  bureau  of  his  department,  which  he 
committed  to  the  charge  of  Major  Thomas  Coggswell, 
the  gentleman  above  spoken  of  as  the  companion  of  his 
sleigh-ride  from  Newburgh  to  Salem.  Major  Coggswell 
was  a  native  of  Plaverhill,  Massachusetts,  from  which 
place  he  started  on  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  at  the  head 
of  a  hundred  volunteers,  for  Lexington.  Although  from 
the  distance  unable  to  reach  the  scene  of  action  until 
the  day  was  over,  he  and  his  brave  followers  showed 
their  zeal  in  the  cause.  He  never  sheathed  the  sword 
then  drawn  while  the  war  lasted.  In  a  letter  dated  in 
January,  1781,  at  New  Windsor  head-quarters,  Wash- 
ington thus  spoke  of  him  :  "  Major  Coggswell  has  been 
always  represented  to  me  as  an  intelligent,  brave,  and 
active  officer."  In  the  previous  volume  of  this  biogra- 
phy, Colonel  Pickering's  letter  of  honorable  discharge 
of  Major  Coggswell  is  given.  Its  date,  Newburgh,  1-lth 
of  January,  1784,  shows  that  they  did  not  start  on 
their  journey  so  soon  as  they  had  expected. 

Major  Coggswell  spent  the  rest  of  his  days,  holding 
the  office  of  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  at 


36  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

Gilmanton,  N.  H.,  where  he  died  on  the  3d  of  Septem- 
ber, 1810,  sixty-four  years  of  age. 

In  compliance  with  Colonel  Pickering's  wishes,  one 
of  his  nieces  accompanied  him  in  his  sleigh,  on  his 
return ;  a  daughter  of  his  sister  Lydia  and  George 
Williams,  of  the  same  name  as  her  mother  ;  and  he  often 
refers  to  the  happiness  her  visit  of  several  months 
imparted  to  his  family.  In  a  letter  to  his  sister,  Lois 
Gooll,  the  mother  of  the  wife  of  the  late  Judge  Samuel 
Putnam,  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Massachusetts,  dated 
Philadelphia,  May  17th,  1784,  he  thus  expresses  his 
estimate  of  this  beloved  niece  :  — 

"  Lydia  is  a  charming  girl.  My  wife  and  I  shall  be  very 
unwilling  to  part  with  her.  I  hope  her  mother  will  not  be  in 
haste  to  send  for  her,  unless  Lydia  herself  should  desire  it ; 
which  I  imagine  she  will  not  do  yet." 

Lydia  returned  by  vessel  to  Providence,  July  3d, 
1784.  She  married  Theodore  Lyman,  and  w^as  the 
mother  of  a  family  honored  in  its  branches  and  descend- 
ants. The  late  distinguished  citizen  and  Mayor  of 
Boston,  a  gentleman  of  rare  accomplishments  and 
philanthropy,  Theodore  Lyman,  was  one  of  her  sons,  and 
the  present  President  of  Harvard  University,  Charles 
William  Eliot,  is  her  grandson. 

This  general  review  of  Colonel  Pickering's  Revolution- 
ary service  would  not  be  complete  without  reference  to 
the  labors  of  his  pen.  From  the  earliest  stages  of  his 
education  he  had  made  style  an  object  of  special  care 
and  study,  aiming  to  acquire  facility  of  composition,  and 
especially  a  plain,  exact,  and  terse  use  of  language.  His 
success  in  this  training  was  one  of  the  elements  of  his 
usefulness  and  distinction  in  all  the  diversified  spheres 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  37 

of  his  life,  and  not  the  least  during  its  military  epoch. 
It  is  easy  to  detect  certain  rules  or  principles  by  which 
he  was  careful  to  be  guided  in  composition.  Of  words 
of  any  thing  like  equivalent  meaning,  he  chose  the 
shortest  and  simplest  in  its  formation.  So  far  as  could 
be  done,  without  lowering  the  dignity  of  the  diction,  he 
preferred  to  use  language  and  phrases  that  were  familiar 
to  common  speech.  He  avoided  loading  his  sentences 
with  unnecessary  terms  or  expletives,  and  employed  only 
such,  or  as  many,  adjectives  as  were  absolutely  required 
to  give  the  true  color  to  the  ideas  designed  to  be  depicted 
or  conveyed.  He  had  discovered  that  brevity  was  a 
chief  element  of  force,  that  words  never  ought  to  be 
allowed  to  encumber,  obscure,  or  dilute  the  sense,  and 
that  figurative  or  rhetorical  expressions  were  not  to  be 
sought  for  merely  to  embellish,  but  only  to  elucidate,  the 
thought.  But,  above  all,  he  clung  to  the  good  old 
Anglo-Saxon  phraseology,  refraining  as  much  as  possible 
from  composite  terms,  either  of  foreign  extraction  or 
ancient,  even  if  classical,  forms,  whether  in  whole  or  in 
part.  A  writer  trained  under  such  a  strict  system  of 
restraint,  whose  tastes  are  adjusted  to  a  severe  simplicity, 
may  safely  depend  upon  the  glow  of  composition  for  all 
requisite  fervor  and  force.  It  was  so  eminently  in  his 
case.  The  warmth  of  his  temperament,  the  earnestness 
of  his  nature,  and  the  strength  of  his  faculties,  without 
violating  the  simplicity  of  his  language,  but  in  fact  in 
virtue  of  it,  not  only  in  the  productions  of  his  pen,  but 
under  the  excitements  of  discussion  and  conversation,  and 
in  the  ardor  of  debate,  often  raised  him  to  the  most 
effective  results  of  eloquence. 

The  views  now  given  of  Colonel  Pickering's  style  as  a 


38  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

writer,  and  the  elements  of  its  excellence,  are  illustrated 
in  all  his  public  documents  and  private  correspondence. 
They  are  suggested  by  an  examination  of  his  earliest 
productions,  before  the  War  of  the  llevolution;  in  his 
articles  found  in  the  columns  of  newspapers ;  official 
communications  in  connection  with  Committees  of  Safety 
and  the  movements  of  the  patriots  generally  at  that  time  ; 
in  his  elaborate  work  on  the  military  art:  but  pre- 
eminently in  the  address  delivered  by  him  to  the  British 
Governor,  from  the  merchants  and  freeholders  of  the  town 
of  Salem,  declining  any  favor  from  the  Crown,  to  the 
injury  of  their  suffering  brethren  in  Boston,  which  re- 
ceived the  encomium  of  Edmund  Burke,  was  applauded 
on  both  sides  of  the  water,  and  will  hold  for  ever  a  most 
conspicuous  place  in  the  history  of  this  country. 

Throughout  the  war,  Colonel  Pickering's  promptness 
and  felicity  with  the  pen  were  constantly  called  to  the 
public  service,  and  estimated  most  highly  by  his  asso- 
ciates. From  the  purity,  accuracy,  elegance,  and  force 
of  his  style,  his  able  and  distinguished  colleagues  in  the 
Board  of  War  felt  it  proper  to  throw  upon  him  the 
labor  of  inditing  the  principal  part  of  their  correspond- 
ence with  Congress  and  the  Commander-in-Chief ;  while 
documents  of  this  sort  connected  with  the  conduct  of 
the  Quartermaster's  department  would  fill  volumes. 
The  student  of  /American  history,  desirous  of  appreciat- 
ing, in  detail,  the  exigencies  and  difficulties  in  providing 
for  the  maintenance  of  the  War  of  the  E-e volution,  will 
find  materials  lucidly  stated  scattered  abundantly  through 
the  manuscripts  of  Colonel  Pickering.  The  estimate  in 
which  his  qualities  as  a  writer  came  to  be  held  is  de- 
monstrated by  the  fact  that  he  was  called  by  the  united 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  39 

voices  of  his  comrades  of  the  highest  grades  to  draft  the 
answer  of  the  army  to  the  farewell  address  to  them  of 
their  illustrious  chief.  The  honorable  service  was  well 
performed.  *  While  the  document,  in  some  passages, 
rises  to  the  highest  dignity  of  expression,  and  glows  with 
the  warmest  eloquence,  it  is  pervaded  by  simplicity  of 
diction,  and  avoids  all  fulsome  adulation.  It  would  be 
difficult,  however,  in  all  the  eulogies  or  benedictions  that 
have  been  pronounced  upon  the  great  hero  and  patriot, 
to  find  the  verdict  of  history  and  the  love  of  the  people 
uttered  in  more  fitting  language. 

The  extent  of  the  service  Colonel  Pickering  rendered 
with  his  pen,  during  the  war,  cannot  be  measured  or 
ascertained.  In  general,  it  may  be  said,  that  his  associ- 
ates availed  themselves  of  his  facility  and  ability  as  a 
writer  freely  and  at  all  times.  Washington  could  not 
possibly  —  no  one  man  could  —  have  personally  com- 
posed all  the  innumerable  documents  that  required  his 
signature ;  and  it  was  his  good  fortune,  as  well  as 
great  wisdom,  to  have  in  his  entire  confidence  and  in  his 
official  family,  men  like  Pickering  and  Hamilton,  who 
could  on  an  emergency,  and  in  a  pressure,  put  his  ideas 
into  the  most  exact,  lucid,  and  forcible  expression. 

As  a  pleasing  as  well  as  decisive  illustration  of  the 
value  attached  bv  his  brother  officers  to  his  stvle  as  a 
writer,  and  as  shedding  light  upon  the  character  of 
another  of  the  heroes  of  the  War  of  Independence, 
Major-General  Henry  Knox,  the  following  anecdote  may 
here  be  given.  Colonel  Pickering  often  related  it.  not 
at  all  from  personal   vanity,  —  a  sentiment  utterly  un- 

*  The  "  answer,"  with  the  circumstances  relating  to  it,  is  given  in  the  pre- 
vious volume,  p.  487. 


40  '  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

known  to  him,  —  but  to  demonstrate  the  true  noble- 
mmdedness  of  Knox,  upon  whose  chivah'ous  gallantry 
and  sterling  worth  he  delighted  to  expatiate. 

In  October,  1780,  a  State  Constitution  went  into  oper- 
ation in  Massachusetts.  This  auspicious  event  was 
justly  regarded  with  great  interest  then,  and  has  an 
historic  importance  that  will  be  more  deeply  appreciated 
as  time  rolls  on.  The  American  Revolution,  as  a  mili- 
tary contest,  is  a  less  memorable  and  instructive  occur- 
rence than  the  transformation  into  States  of  provincial 
governments.  This  is  the  grand  and  only  adequate 
consummation  of  efforts  to  redeem  a  people  to  liberty. 
To  break  down  an  old  form  of  government  is  one  thing, 
to  organize  a  new  one  is  the  harder  and  greater  work. 
AYhile  the  war  was  still  raging,  and  its  issue  dark  and 
discouraging,  the  people  of  Massachusetts  entered  on 
and  deliberately  went  through  the  steps  necessary  to 
reconstruct  the  body-politic  upon  the  basis  of  self- 
government  ;  and,  clothed  with  all  the  functions  requi- 
site to  preserve  and  develop  the  elements  of  freedom, 
equal  rights,  personal  security,  and  civil  order,  —  freed 
from  the  abuses  that  had,  in  all  other  countries  and  all 
ages,  been  inseparable  from  political  power,  —  that 
State  rose  to  view  as  a  E-epublic.  The  august  process 
was  passed  through  in  all  the  Colonies,  travelling  sub- 
stantially in  the  same  path,  until  they  severally  became 
sovereign  States.  This  completed  the  work  of  the 
American  Revolution,  and  solved  the  problem  for  all 
other  nations,  in  all  coming  time.  The  fact  that  this 
great  American  nation  consists  wholly  of  States,  which, 
although  united  into  one  empire,  still  continue,  within 
their  proper  sphere,  sovereign,  entire,  and  equal  as  govern- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  41 

ments,  constitutes  the  peculiar  glory  of  the  United  States, 
among  the  nations,  and  makes  it  the  Model  Kepublic. 

The  fact  that  this  organic  change  had  been  consum- 
mated, under  circumstances  that  commanded  general 
attention,  was  rendered  still  more  interesting  by  the 
election  of  John  Hancock  to  be  the  Governor  of  the 
new-born  Commonwealth,  — one  of  the  immortal  two 
proscribed  patriots  of  1775,  whose  bold  autograph,  as 
President  of  Congress,  stands  so  conspicuously  at  the 
head  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

In  the  great  excitement  produced  in  the  encampment 
of  the  American  army  by  the  receipt  of  this  intelli- 
gence, the  idea  was  suggested,  that  a  special  expression 
w^as  due  to  the  occasion  by  the  Massachusetts  troops  in 
the  vicinity  of  head-quarters.  A  meeting  of  the  officers 
was  accordingly  notified  by  General  Knox,  the  highest 
in  rank  from  that  State,  to  be  held  at  his  quarters. 
When  they  were  assembled,  the  General  rose  and 
explained  the  object  of  the  meeting.  After  an  expres- 
sion of  opinion  all  around,  in  accordance  with  the  sug- 
gestion of  the  General  that  an  address  ought  to  be 
signed  by  them  severally  and  despatched  to  Governor 
Hancock,  congratulating  him  on  his  election,  and 
expressing  the  joy  with  which  the  soldiers  of  Massa- 
chusetts had  heard  of  it,  the  General  again  rose  and 
said  that  not  doubting  such  would  be  the  resolve  of 
the  officers,  and  feeling  that  what  was  done  it  were 
better  to  do  quickly,  fearing  also  that  it  might  not  have 
occurred  to  anv  other  officer,  he  had  ventured  to  write 
a  form  of  address,  which,  if  approved,  might  be  used 
on  the  occasion.  Its  reading,  of  course,  was  called 
for.    Upon  finishing  the   document,  he  laid  it  on    the 


42  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

table  and  resumed  his  seat.  Not  exactly  fancying  the 
diffuseness  of  the  General's  composition,  and  thinking 
it  of  real  importance  that  there  should  be  greater  con- 
ciseness in  such  a  paper,  —  disagreeable  as  it  was  to 
take  such  a  step,  —  Colonel  Pickering  rose,  and,  in  the 
name  of  the  whole  assembly,  thanked  the  General  for 
having  called  the  meeting,  and  for  his  forethought  and 
considerateness  in  preparing  a  draft  of  an  address.  He 
entirely  agreed  with  the  General  that  what  was  done 
had  better  be  done  quickly ;  and,  like  the  General, 
doubting  whether  any  other  gentleman  would  come 
prepared  with  a  form  of  language,  he  also  had  written 
one.  Upon  his  saying  this,  the  General,  in  the  most 
cordial  and  earnest  manner,  called  upon  him  to  read 
it,  Avhich  he  forthwith  did.  At  its  conclusion  Knox 
instantly  rose,  stretched  out  his  hand  (bearing  the  marks, 
in  its  somewhat  mutilated  fingers,  of  an  accidental 
explosion  of  his  fowling-piece,  while  shooting  at  ducks 
in  Boston  harbor,  several  years  before  the  Revolution), 
clutched  up  his  own  manuscript,  put  it  into  his  pocket, 
and  exclaimed,  in  the  heartiest  manner,  "  I  like  it  a 
thousand  times  better  than  my  own.  Let  us  sign  and 
send  on  Colonel  Pickering's  address.'' 

It  was  transmitted,  through  General  Lincoln,  to 
Governor  Hancock,  whose  reply,  couched  in  grateful 
and  becoming  terms,  was  dated  December  1st,  1780. 

The  address  of  the  officers  was  as  follows :  — 

"  To  HIS  Excellency  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  Goyeenor 
OF  THE  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

"Sir, 
''  The  General  and    Field-Officers  of  the    Massachusetts 
troops,  in  behalf   of  themselves  and  their  brethren  in  the 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  43 

field,  take  the  earliest  opportunity  to  present  your  Excel- 
lency with  their  congratulations  on  your  advancement  to  the 
highest  seat  in  the  Government  of  the  State  ;  an  elevation 
the  more  honorable,  as  being  effected  by  the  voluntary  suf- 
frages of  a  free  people. 

We  are  happy  that  such  a  mode  of  electing  the  first  magis- 
trate, and  principal  officers  of  the  Government,  is  fixed  by  the 
Constitution  of  the  State  ;  a  mode  so  contrived  as  to  preclude 
delay,  and  which  cannot  be  subjected  to  corrupt  influence 
on  one  hand,  nor,  on  the  other,  to  riotous  tumult  or  cabal. 

We  are  happy  that  the  Constitution  is  framed  on  such 
generous  and  enlarged  principles,  that  no  member  of  the 
State,  whatever  be  his  occupation  or  employment,  whose 
circumstances  render  liim  sufficiently  independent,  and  w^ho 
gives  reasonable  assurances  of  his  fidelity,  can  be  excluded 
from  any  of  the  rights  of  a  free  citizen. 

We  shall  be  happy  when  the  time  shall  come  that  we  may 
again  assume  the  character  of  citizens,  —  a  character  of  which 
we  never  divested  ourselves,  even  in  idea. 

We  shall  be  happy  to  partake,  wdth  our  fellow-citizens, 
the  blessings  of  a  well-earned  peace  ;  and  our  happiness  will 
be  completed  in  the  reflection  that,  under  the  direction  of 
Heaven,  we,  by  our  exertions,  sufferings,  and  dangers,  in 
conjunction  with  those  of  our  fellow-soldiers,  have  been  so 
greatly  instrumental  in  acquiring  them. 

But,  before  that  wished-for  period  shall  arrive,  much  re- 
mains to  be  performed,  much  to  be  endured,  and  in  doing 
and  suffering  we  shall  cheerfully  participate  with  our  fellow- 
citizens.  Much,  especially,  will  be  expected  from  those  who 
hold  distinguished  places  in  public  life.  Placed  at  the  head 
of  the  Government,  your  Excellency  will  have  many  oppor- 
tunities of  rendering  the  most  important  seiTices  to  the 
country  at  large,  and  to  the  troops  of  the  Commonwealth 
of  Massachusetts  in  particular  ;  and  your  discernment  of 
its  true  interest,  and  your  fellow-feeling  for  those  who  greatly 
suffer  in  their  country's  cause,  will  induce  you  to  improve 
them. 

We  will  no  longer  detain  your  Excellency  than  to  express 
our  sincere  wishes  that  the  execution  of  your  important  office 


44  LIFE   OF    TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

may  be  attended  with  all  that  success  and  applause  of  your 
fellow-citizens  which  a  wise  and  faithful  administration  of 
the  Government  shall  deserve. 

Camp  at  Totowat,  November  12t]i,  1780." 

An  interesting  passage  of  the  same  kind  occurred  a 
fe^v  years  afterwards  between  these  large-hearted  men. 
It  is  mentioned  in  the  previous  volume,  page  487. 
The  committee  appointed  by  the  officers  of  the  army 
to  draft  an  answer  to  Washington's  "  Farewell  Orders," 
issued  on  the  fSd  of  November,  1782,  seem  to  have 
agreed  to  prepare  each  a  form  of  language,  and  to  sub- 
mit them  for  consideration.  On  coming  together,  Gen- 
eral McDougall  excused  himself  on  account  of  the 
pressure  of  other  engagements ;  General  Knox  and 
Colonel  Pickering  produced  their  manuscripts.  Picker- 
ing was  much  pleased  wdth  that  offered  by  Knox  ;  but 
the  latter,  again  manifesting  his  superiority  to  all  pride 
of  authorship  or  personal  conceit,  declared  his  prefer- 
ence for  the  Colonel's  production,  which  was  reported 
to  a  full  meeting  of  the  officers  and  unanimously 
adopted. 

As  Colonel  Pickering's  militai-y  career  was  finally 
closed  with  the  abolition  of  the  Pevolutionary  office 
of  Quartermaster-General,  —  the  entire  residue  of  his 
eventful  and  remarkable  life  being  passed  in  civil  sta- 
tions and  private  pursuits, —  it  may  be  proper,  in  con- 
cluding a  retrospective  glance  of  the  period  embraced 
in  the  first  volume  of  this  w^ork,  to  ofi'er  some  general 
remarks,  despatching  all  that  may  remain  to  be  said 
of  him  as  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  which  will  be 
comprised  in  the  three  following  chapters. 


LIFE   OF    TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  45 


CHAPTER   II. 

His  Military  Character. 
1X75-1783. 

Colonel  Pickering's  life  as  a  soldier  terminated, 
strictly  speaking,  as  has  been  observed  in  the  preceding 
chapter,  with  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  aboli- 
tion of  the  office  of  Quartermaster-General.  As  he 
never  afterwards  had  any  connection  with  military 
affairs,  except  as  Secretary  of  War  in  Washington's 
cabinet,  it  may  be  well  at  this  point  also,  rather  than 
at  the  conclusion  of  his  biography,  to  sum  up  what  may 
be  required  to  be  said  as  to  his  military  character,  and 
to  dispose  of  such  matters  as  are  particularly  connected 
with  his  service  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution. 

It  appears,  by  the  documents  presented  in  the  previ- 
ous volume  of  this  work  (pp.  135,  136),  that  Congress 

;  having  recommended  Colonel  William  Lee,  of  Marble- 
head,  for  the  office  of  Adjutant-General,  Washington 
offered  the  place  in  the  first  instance  to  Colonel  Pickering, 

'  with  a  request,  if  he  could  not  make  it  compatible  wdth 
his  other  obligations  to  accept  it,  to  convey  to  Colonel 
Lee  an  enclosed  tender  of  the  same.  Pickering,  feel- 
ing constrained  to  decline  the  appointment,  despatched 
the  letter  to  Lee,  who  immediately  repaired  to  head- 
quarters at  Morristown,  New  Jersey,  and  expressed  to 
Washington  an  earnest  desire  that  Pickering  might  be 
prevailed  on  to  take  the  situation,  declaring  that  from  "  a 


46  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

very  intimate  and  friendly  acquaintance  "  he  knew  him  to 
be  "a  first-rate  military  character,"  and  that  in  his  opin- 
ion no  one  was  better  qualified  for  the  post.  Pickering 
having  been  finally  persuaded  to  accept  the  proposal, 
Washington,  in  a  letter  to  the  President  of  Congress,  re- 
ferring to  these  circumstances,  and  in  justification  of  his 
own  course,  said :  "  This  conduct  in  preference  of  Colonel 
Pickering  I  was  induced  to  adopt  from  the  high  charac- 
ter I  had  of  him,  both  as  a  great  military  genius  cul- 
tivated by  an  industrious  attention  to  the  study  of  war, 
and  also  as  a  gentleman  of  liberal  education,  distin- 
guished zeal,  and  great  method  and  activity  in  business." 
It  further  appears  that  Pickering,  feeling  that  his  abil- 
ity to  fill  the  office  was  over-estimated  by  Washington, 
used  this  language  in  accepting  the  place  :  ''  My  mili- 
tary character,  which  you  are  pleased  to  mention  as  a 
motive  to  the  appointment,  is,  in  my  own  estimation,  of  no 
great  account.  I  have,  it  is  true,  studied  the  rudiments  of 
the  military  art,  but  have  very  small,  or  rather  no,  preten- 
sions to  capacity  and  skill  in  the  important  scenes  of 
war." 

It  becomes  a  matter  of  interest  to  ascertain  how  far 
the  military  reputation  with  which  he  joined  the  army, 
thus  attested  by  Washington  and  Lee,  but  modestly  dis- 
avowed by  himself,  was  sustained  by  his  actual  service. 

It  is  quite  certain  that  no  officer  of  the  Revolutionary 
army  had  been  more  conversant  with  military  science, 
as  taught  in  books,  than  Timothy  Pickering.  His 
writings  show  that  he  had  studied  the  history  of  the 
great  masters  of  the  art  of  war,  and  read  the  European 
and  English  authors  on  the  subject,  from  Julius  Ceesar 
down  to  his  own  time.     He  was  familiar  with  the  prin- 


LIFE  OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  47 

cipal  manuals  and  authorized  systems  relating  to  it, 
in  all  their  details.  Besides  this  book  learning,  he  had 
for  years  been  accumulating  the  results  of  personal 
observation  and  experience,  in  exercising  his  own  com- 
pany and  others  of  neighboring  towns,  in  the  minutice 
of  the  soldier's  duty.  His  own  treatise,  the  "  Plan  of 
Discipline,"  covers,  as  has  been  stated,  the  whole 
ground  fully,  including  every,  even  the  smallest,  partic- 
ular as  to  the  attitudes,  postures,  and  movements  of  men 
and  officers  in  the  drill,  at  the  parade,  and  on  the  field, 
in  all  evolutions  and  actions,  and  in  the  handling  and 
use  of  sword  and  musket.  As  a  teacher  of  rudiments 
to  the  raw  soldier,  and  in  the  exercise  and  training  of 
a  company  or  battalion,  he  probably  had  no  superior. 
It  may  be  considered  quite  certain  that  no  private  citi- 
zen in  the  country  had  taken  more  pains,  or  spent  more 
time,  in  volunteer  efforts  to  prepare  his  fellow-citizens 
for  the  approaching  contest,  as  Captain  of  his  Salem 
company,  the  instructor  of  other  companies,  and  as 
Colonel,  before  the  war  began,  of  the  Essex  regiment. 
When,  afterwards,  he  raised  another  regiment,  and 
marched  it  to  head-quarters,  we  may  be  sure  that  no 
Colonel  of  that  day  presented  to  Washington  a  body  of 
troops  more  perfectly  in  hand.  This  is  shown  in  the  im- 
pression made  upon  the  mind  of  the  Commander-in-Chief 
during  the  short  period  the  regiment  remained  under  his 
eye,  and  which  led  him,  at  the  first  opportunity,  and  not- 
withstanding the  recommendation  by  Congress  of 
another  distinguished  officer,  to  call  its  commander 
to   the  post  of  his  Adjutant-General. 

As  his  service  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  after  joining 
the  stafi"  of  Washington,  took  him  to  a  great  degree  out 


48  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

of  the  field  of  personal  and  particular  command,  no 
opportunity  occurred  of  showing  his  capacity  for  the 
immediate  management  of  divisions  of  troops  against 
the  enemy,  or  conducting  campaigns  or  battles  ;  and 
the  means  are  not  afforded  of  determining  his  military 
talents  on  this  scale.  But  from  the  advice  he  gave 
on  several  occasions  of  emergency,  a  judgment  may 
perhaps  be  formed  with  considerable  confidence.  As 
has  been  before  remarked,  his  suggestion  in  a  council 
of  officers  on  the  morning  after  the  battle  of  Lexington, 
that  to  seize  and  hold  Castle  Island  was  the  only  feasi- 
ble thing  to  be  done  at  that  crisis  against  the  British 
forces  in  the  town  and  harbor  of  Boston  ;  that  if  an 
offensive  operation  were  then  attempted,  it  should  be 
at  that  point, — besides  showing  his  readiness  to  engage 
in  a  daring  enterprise,  and  meet  any  danger,  will  be 
regarded  by  all  who  examine  the  then  state  of  things, 
in  connection  with  the  topography,  as  bearing  the  stamp 
of  military  genius.  If  successful,  it  would  have  com- 
pelled the  surrender  of  the  enemy's  troops  and  fleet,  and 
taken  its  place  in  history  among  the  boldest  and  most 
heroic  achievements  ever  accomplished.  Its  effects  upon 
the  current  of  events  would  have  been  incalculable.  At 
the  battle  of  Brandywine,  when  the  fate  of  the  army  was 
at  stake,  and  perplexity  hung  over  the  condition  of  thin<>s, 
the  advice  of  the  Adjutant-General,  given  with  great 
emphasis,  and  heeded  by  the  Commander-in-Chief,  pre- 
vented what  would  otherwise  have  been  an  utter  defeat. 
His  views,  urged  with  equal  earnestness  in  the  affair 
of  the  Chew  house  at  German  town,  but  overruled  by 
the  older  and  more  cautious  Generals,  would,  if  followed, 
it  appears  to  be  universally  conceded,  have  saved  the 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERIXG.  49 

day.  In  drawing  the  lines  around  the  enemy  at  York- 
town,  and  inflicting  upon  Cornwallis  the  decisive  and 
last  blow  of  the  war,  Colonel  Pickering's  opinions  and 
suggestions  were  of  invaluable  service. 

The  conclusion  to  be  drawn  from  instances  like  these 
is,  that  if  he  had  occupied  the  position  of  a  military 
commander  in  charge  of  campaigns,  directing  the  mana^u- 
vres  of  armies,  and  conducting  the  shock  of  battle,  he 
would  have  exhibited  energy,  promptness,  and  boldness; 
in  all  probability,  have  achieved  great  distinction 
and  success  ;  and  established  the  character  of  an  eminent 
military  commander.  He  suffered,  however,  one  incon- 
venience, disqualifying  him,  to  some  extent,  for  services 
in  the  field. 

He  was  near-sio^hted,  and  could  not  survev  distinctly 
a  wide  or  distant  area.  He  had  experienced  this  defect 
from  early  life  ;  and  it  was,  no  doubt,  one  of  the  consid- 
erations that  led  him  to  be  so  diffident  of  his  ability 
to  execute  the  functions  of  an  Adjutant-General.  He 
was  under  the  necessity  of  wearing  glasses.  A  mounted 
officer,  often  having  occasion  to  ride  swiftly  to  and 
from  remote  points,  conveying  orders  and  bringing  intel- 
ligence to  his  chief,  frequently  where  there  Avere  no 
roads  to  guide  him,  while  the  complicated  and  fluctuat- 
ing movements  of  a  battle  were  going  on,  must  have  felt 
more  or  less  embarrassed  by  dependence  upon  such  an 
artificial  aid  to  sight,  liable  to  be  misplaced,  broken,  or 
thrown  off.  But  so  great  were  his  qualifications  in  all 
other  respects,  that  no  difficulty,  on  this  score,  appears 
to  have  been  noticed  while  he  was  on  \Vashinii:ton's  staff. 

Spectacles  were  very  little  in  use  at  that  time  com- 
pared with  the  present.     Probably  but  very  few,  if  any 

Vol.  II.  4 


50  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

others,  were  worn  in  the  Hevolutionary  army.  An  old 
soldier  of  that  war,  who  had  enlisted  from  an  interior 
town  of  Massachusetts,  related  to  me  the  following : — 

While  the  army  was  encamped  near  the  Hudson,  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  Highlands,  in  a  stormy  night, 
somewhat  before  the  break  of  day,  they  were  roused  bv 
an  alarm.  Companies  and  regiments  hurried  to  their 
posts.  While  waiting  under  arms  to  receive  orders,  and 
all  alive  with  the  excitement  of  an  expected  encounter 
with  the  enemy,  from  whatever  quarter  he  might  appear, 
after  the  day  had  dawned,  a  mounted  officer  was  seen 
approaching,  at  the  top  of  his  speed,  along  the  road, 
which  was  straight  and  in  view  for  some  distance.  As 
he  came  dashing  on,  his  eyes  at  intervals,  and  for  the 
moment,  seemed  to  be  balls  of  flame.  The  frequent 
recurrence  of  this  strange  phenomenon  attracted  great 
interest.  When  the  horseman  came  near,  the  stalwart 
form  of  the  Adjutant-General  was  recognized,  and  the 
alternating  and  intermittent  light  was  found  to  be  the  re- 
flection on  his  eye-glasses  of  the  blazing  camp-fires  he 
had  passed  on  his  route.  My  informant  assured  me  that 
this  was  the  first  time  in  his  life  he  had  ever  seen 
spectacles. 

In  the  Board  of  War  but  little  opportunity  was  afforded 
for  the  immediate  and  distinctive  display  of  what  are 
considered  military  talents.  Colonel  Pickering  was 
transferred  to  that  position  on  account  of  his  known 
capacity  for  the  transaction  of  business,  his  methodical 
habits  of  exactness,  the  clearness  of  his  mental  processes, 
the  energy  of  his  character,  and  his  incorruptible  integ- 
rity. These  qualities  had  become  fully  appreciated  by 
the  Commander-in-Chief   and  by   Congress,  and  were 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERIXG.  51 

acknowledged  by  his  associates  in  that  important  com- 
mission. 

While  the  functions  of  members  of  the  Board  of  War 
withdrew  them  from  the  area  of,  strictly  speaking, 
military  service,  it  was  not  so  with  the  office  of  Quarter- 
master-General, which,  particularly  at  that  time  in  that 
aj-my,  opened  a  field  for  the  display  of  some  of  the  ele- 
ments of  character  and  genius  essential  to  the  conduct  and 
management  of  a  protracted  war  waged  over  a  wide 
territory.  The  great  commander  finds  but  a  part  of  his 
sphere  of  operations  in  the  movements  and  evolutions 
of  troops  in  the  progress  of  campaigns  in  front  of  the 
foe,  or  on  the  field  of  battle.  The  calculations  and 
arrangements  for  the  supply  of  food,  clothing,  ammuni- 
tion, and  the  means  of  transportation,  comprise  a  vital 
department  of  military  science.  It  has  always  been  the 
great  w^ork  of  war.  The  most  renowiied  generals  in  all 
ages,  and  more  especially  in  recent  times,  have  derived 
their  reputation  and  success  from  the  foresight,  compre- 
hension of  view,  and  ability  with  which  this  department 
has  been  administered. 

In  the  war  of  the  American  Eevolution,  it  w^as  pre- 
eminently difficult,  and  called  for  the  highest  order  of 
talent.  The  theatre  of  the  conflict  embraced  a  con- 
tinent. At  its  opening,  the  country  was  wholly  unpre- 
pared to  meet  the  demands  of  the  crisis  in  this  particular. 
Its  resources  and  capabilities  were  undeveloped  and 
unknown.  Brave  men,  as  at  Lexington  and  Bunker 
Hill,  could  seize  their  muskets  and  rush  to  the  field  ; 
but  how  to  keep  them  there,  —  how  to  sustain  them  in 
aggregate  masses ;  to  feed,  clothe,  and  shelter  them  ; 
supply  them  with  animunition,  arms,  and  accoutrements  ; 


52  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

and  triinsport  them,  with  all  their  luggage,  from  point 
to  point,  over  a  new,  rough,  broken  country,  as  the 
scene  of  the  struggle  shifted  all  along  the  Atlantic 
regions, —  this  was  the  problem  which  tasked  the  great 
mind  of  Washington,  as  it  does  more  or  less  all  com- 
manders of  armies,  and  all  in  any  way  responsibly 
entrusted  with  the  conduct  of  war.  In  the  Revolution- 
ary army,  this  vast  burden  of  duty  and  care  pressed 
with  its  chief  weight  upon  the  department  of  which 
the  Quartermaster-General  was  the  head.  The  immense 
mass  of  papers  relating  to  it  among  the  manuscripts 
of  Colonel  Pickering  —  business  correspondence  with 
subordinates  and  persons  of  all  sorts  furnishing  sup- 
plies, and  accounts  without  number,  great  and  small 
—  demonstrate  the  magnitude  of  the  service.  It  is 
evident  that  all  passed  under  his  own  eye,  and,  in 
every  detail,  was  subject  to  his  direction  and  examina- 
tion. None  but  a  man  of  his  herculean  strength  — 
physical,  intellectual,  and  moral  —  could  have  discharged 
such  a  trust.  The  circumstances  under  which  he  was 
appointed  to  the  office  show  that  this  was  the  opinion  of 
Congress  and  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

The  grandest  military  achievement  of  the  Revolution- 
ary contest  —  that  which  stamps  Washington  with  the 
character  of  a  great  General,  on  a  level  with  the 
greatest  of  all  nations  and  ages  —  was  the  instantaneous 
change  of  the  whole  scheme  of  the  war,  by  which  all 
movements  and  operations  in  all  quarters  of  the  country 
were  at  once  simultaneously  reversed,  and  the  combined 
American  and  French  armies  transferred  with  marvellous 
rapidity  from  both  sides  of  the  Hudson  to  the  lower  coun- 
ties of  Virginia,  south  of  the  Chesf^peake,  —  from  Xew 
York  to  Yorktown. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  53 

The  alliance  with  France  furnished  an  effective  re-en- 
forcement to  the  American  army,  but  its  vital  impor- 
tance was  that  it  supplied  the  United  States  with  a 
naval  force  competent  to  meet  that  of  Great  Britain. 
At  the  moment  of  its  consummation  Washington  con- 
ceived a  purpose  that  was  cherished  and  strengthened 
from  day  to  day,  and  at  last  fully  developed  at  a  con- 
ference with  Count  de  Kochambeau  at  Weathersfield, 
on  the  23d  of  Mav,  1781.  It  was  to  draw  the  allied 
armv  around  New  York,  while  the  French  fleet  was  to 
blockade  that  port,  thus  hemming  in  Sir  Henry  Clin- 
ton and  capturing  him  with  the  main  British  army  hav- 
ing its  head-quarters  there.  This  would  end  the  war. 
To  accomplish  it  all  the  forces,  land  and  naval,  of  France 
and  America,  that  could  possibly  be  made  available, 
were  to  move  towards  New  York.  Count  de  Rocham- 
beau  immediately  started  his  troops  in  that  direction  ; 
and  it  w^as  understood  that  the  French  fleet,  then  in  two 
separate  squadrons  at  distant  stations,  would  co-operate  ; 
that  under  Count  de  Barras  to  repair  forthwith  from 
Newport,  Rhode  Island,  to  Chesapeake  Bay  to  block 
up  the  British  army  in  Virginia,  under  Cornwallis  ;  while 
the  main  squadron,  under  Count  de  Grasse,  consisting 
of  about  thirty  ships  of  the  line,  was  to  make  its  way 
from  the  West  Indies  to  Sandy  Hook  ;  thus  shutting  up 
both  Cornwallis  and  Clinton,  preventing  all  supplies, 
re-enforcements,  or  succors  whatever,  from  passing  be- 
tween them  or  reaching  them  from  England,  and  ulti- 
mately securing  the  capture  of  them  both.  This  was 
surely  a  splendid  plan  of  joint  operations,  and  every 
thing  seemed  to  show  that  it  was  practicable. 

Washington  did  his  part.     He  addressed  earnest  and 


54  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING 

repeated  appeals  to  Congress,  the  Governors  of  States, 
and  all  persons  in  authority,  to  aid  in  the  operation  by 
sending  every  possible  man  to  swell  his  ranks,  and  by 
forwarding  supplies  of  all  sorts  to  the  utmost  of  their 
capacity.     The  country  responded  to  his  demands  most 
nobly.     It  drained  its  resources  to  give  effect  to  this  last 
great  effort  for  its  deliverance.     The  work  went  on  most 
auspiciously,  and   every  thing  promised  a   sure  result. 
On  the  14th  of  August,  1781,  Robert  Morris,  having 
arrived   at   camp,   accompanied   by   Colonel   Pickering, 
went  to  head-quarters  to  confer  with  the  General  in  ref- 
erence to  matters  connected  with  the   Board   of  War. 
When  they  entered  his  apartment  he   was  striding   to 
and  fro  in  such  a  state  of  uncontrolled  excitement  that 
he  did  not  seem  to  notice  their  presence.     They  imme- 
diately withdrew.     In  a  short  half-hour  they  were  sent 
for,  and  found  him  clothed  with  his  usual  serene  dignity 
of  countenance  and  mien.     The  terrific  storm  had  wholly 
passed,  and  was  succeeded  by  a  perfect  calm.     After 
transacting  their  business,  he  referred  to  the  scene  that 
had  just    occurred,    apologizing    for    his   extraordinary 
appearance  on  the  occasion  ;  he  proceeded  to  explain  it 
in  a  perfectly  composed  manner,  giving  in  general  terms 
the  great  plan  that  had  been  agreed  upon  by  him  and  the 
French  commanders  ;  he  related  how,  for  months,  his 
thoughts  and  heart  had  been  fixed   upon  it,    and   the 
resources  of   his   army  and   country   strained   to    carry 
it  to  its   consummation.     He  pointed  out  how  certain 
would  have  been  its  success,  and  dilated  upon  the  glo- 
rious  consequences   in  the  independence,  freedom,  and 
happiness  of  America.     He  went  on  to  express,  —  per- 
fectly   controlling   his    feelings,   which   were   evidently 


LIFE   OF    TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  55 

wrought  to  the  highest  pitch,  and  tossing  like  a  sup- 
pressed volcano  within, — in  slow  and  measured  phrase, 
how  bitterly  and  utterly  he  had  been  disappointed.  He 
intimated  that  this  was  not  the  first  disappointment  of 
the  kind,  and,  with  vexation  of  heart,  exclaimed,  "  I 
wish  to  the  Lord  the  French  would  not  raise  our  expec- 
tations of  a  co-operation,  or  fulfil  them  !  "  Pausing  for 
a  moment,  he  again,  but  more  particularly,  sketched 
the  elements  of  the  scheme  which  had  engrossed  and 
absorbed  him.  General  Greene  was  taking  care 
of  the  Carolinas,  and  nothing  adverse  was  to  be 
apprehended  from  that  quarter.  The  Marquis  Lafay- 
ette was  baffling  and  holding  Cornwallis  in  Virginia. 
The  Count  de  Barras  was  to  keep  the  Chesapeake  closed, 
so  that  no  relief  could  come  or  go  between  the  two  chief 
divisions  of  the  British  armv  in  New  York  and  Vir- 
ginia.  The  whole  programme  was  being  carried  out ; 
all  thino:s  were  workinsr  to  a  charm.  The  French  forces 
under  Rochambeau  were  reaching  their  positions,  and 
New  York  was  invested  by  land.  All  that  was  wanted 
was  the  appearance  of  the  French  fleets  at  their  respec- 
tive destinations,  and  information  to  that  effect  was  impa- 
tiently and  hourly  expected.  On  the  20th  of  July  the 
first  shock  was  given  to  his  hopes.  A  letter  was  that 
day  received  by  him  from  Count  de  Barras,  informing 
him  that,  instead  of  going  to  the  Chesapeake,  he  had 
concluded  to  take  his  fleet  to  Newfoundland.  Aston- 
ished beyond  measure  by  this  unaccountable  departure 
from  the  plan,  he  brought  his  mind  to  submit  to  the  dis- 
appointment. All  then  depended  upon  the  appearance 
of  the  great  fleet  of  Count  de  Grasse  in  the  waters  of 
New  York,  and  it  was  constantlv  looked  for  with  fever- 
ish  and  painful  anxiety. 


o6  lAFE   OF   TIMOTHY    PICKERING. 

X)n  that  very  morning,  August  1  Jrtli,  just  before  Morris 
and  Pickering  entered,  he  had  received  a  letter  from 
Count  de  Grasse,  stating  that  he  should  not  come  to 
New  York  at  all.  That  he  was  designing  to  take  his  squad- 
ron, with  a  large  land  force  on  board,  to  the  Chesa- 
peake, and  would  be  under  the  necessity  of  returning  with 
his  fleet  to  the  West  Indies  by  the  middle  of  October  ! 
The  same  hour  word  had  been  brought  that  a  large 
re- enforcement  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton  from  England  had 
entered  the  harbor  of  New  York !  This  intelligence 
had  overwhelmed  him  for  the  moment.  Resentment, 
indignation,  and  despair  had  burst  upon  him.  His 
hopes  were  blasted,  and  he  felt  that  the  cause  was  lost 
and  his  country  ruined. 

In  relating  the  details  of  this  occasion,  and  describing 
the  furious  outburst  of  Washington's  wrath  at  the  first 
interview,  and  its  entire  disappearance  at  the  second, 
with  so  short  an  interval  of  time,  Colonel  Pickering 
used  to  say  that  such  a  complete  triumph  of  a  great 
mind,  over  adversity  and  over  itself,  he  had  never  wit- 
nessed. The  common  impression,  perhaps,  is  that 
Washington  was  a  man  of  a  cold  temperament.  The 
truth  is  that  he  naturally  had  the  strongest  passions,  and 
the  deepest  sensibility  ;  and  affords  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable instances  in  human  history  of  habitual  and  almost 
constant  self-control.  Only  in  a  few  emergencies  was  he 
ever  known  to  lose  it,  and  then,  it  may  almost  literally 
be  said,  but  for  a  moment.  The  case  just  described 
is  one.  Another  was  when  some  of  his  troops  were, 
as  he  thought,  disgracefully  panic-stricken  and  driven 
back  through  New  York  City  after  the  disastrous  defeat 
on  Long  Island,   and   another  when  he   met  General 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  57 

Charles  Lee  retreating  at  the  battle  of  Monmouth. 
Ordinarily,  neither  the  extremity  of  misfortune,  nor  the 
most  appalling  danger,  nor  the  folly  or  wrong-doing  of 
others,  could  disturb  the  equanimity  of  his  demeanor. 
He  ruled  his  own  spirit  as  he  did  that  of  his  fiery  war- 
horse,  with  a  strong,  firm,  and  steady  hand.  This  is 
one  of  the  chief  glories  of  his  character. 

On  the  recovery  of  his  mind  from  this  great  shock, 
instantly,  perhaps  before  summoning  back  to  his  pres- 
ence Pickering  and  Morris,  he  formed  the  design  the 
prosecution  of  which  was,  as  I  have  said,  the  most  brill- 
iant achievement  of  the  war.  and  secured  its  orlorious 
termination.  He  communicated  it  before  the  day  was 
over  to  Colonel  Pickering,  and  a  conference  was  had 
with  him,  as  to  the  measures  to  be  taken  to  carry  it  out. 
He  directed  Pickering  to  put  the  whole  machinery  of 
his  department  into  immediate  operation,  so  that  the 
artillery  should  be  prepared  to  move  at  once,  transpor- 
tation be  provided,  and  all  necessary  arrangements  made 
to  furnish  the  army  with  what  might  be  requisite  at  its 
start  on  a  long  march,  and  to  have  supplies  collected  at 
convenient  points  all  along  the  way,  so  that  provisions, 
clothing,  horses,  wagons,  boats,  and  vessels  should  be 
in  readiness  wherever  needed.  The  details  of  the  whole 
campaign  were  settled  between  them.  The  plan  was 
this :  — 

As  Washington  could  no  longer  think  of  moving 
upon  Sir  Henry  Clinton  in  New  York,  he  resolved  to  do 
the  business  for  Lord  Cornwallis  in  Virginia.  Orders 
were  given  for  the  French  troops,  and  as  many  of  his 
own  as  could  be  spared  from  guarding  the  Xorth  E-iver 
and  the  posts  around  New  York,  to  begin  to  break  up 


58  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  TICKERING. 

their  encampments,  and  prepare  for  a  march.  '  Ever\ 
thing  was  put  in  process  for  the  transferrence  of  the 
various  divisions  from  the  Hudson  to  James  River.  It 
was  necessary  to  make  the  great  movement  without  an 
.liour's  dehiy.  The  presence  of  Count  de  Grasse's  fleet 
in  the  Chesapeake  was  absolutely  necessary  to  the  suc- 
cess of  the  manoeuvre,  and  it  could  remain  in  those 
waters  onlv  to  the  middle  of  October.  The  scheme 
required  to  be  accomplished  in  two  short  months. 

The  combined  armv  was  actuallv  in  motion  in  five 
davs.  The  American  detachments  crossed  the  Hudson 
on  the  20th  of  August.  Rochambeau  passed  over  his 
lesrions  on  the  21st ;  on  the  24th  thev  were  all  in  full 
way.  The  arrangements  w^ere  based  upon  reaching  the 
Head  of  Elk  on  the  8th  of  September.  Washington,  with 
the  advance  divisions,  w^as  there  on  the  6th.  Two  davs 
after  embarkation  began  at  the  Head  of  Elk  ;  and  the 
whole  army  was  soon  afloat,  and  descending  the  Chesa- 
peake from  that  point  and  Baltimore  to  James  River. 
Washington  and  Kochambeau  were  at  Mount  Vernon 
on  the  10th,  at  Fredericksburg  on  the  12th,  at  !New 
Castle  on  the  13th,  and  at  Williamsburg  on  the  14th. 
On  the  20th,  every  thing  being  ready,  the  whole  army 
was  marched  within  two  miles  of  York,  and  the  siege 
of  that  place  began.  The  French  fleet  was  at  hand, 
and  the  investment  of  the  enemy  complete.  The  artil- 
lery was  brought  up  and  put  into  battery.  Trenches 
were  dug,  and  redoubts  erected.  On  the  6th  of  Octo- 
ber the  first  parallel  was  begun,  and  finished  on  the  8th, 
within  600  vards  of  Cornwallis's  works.  On  the  nis^ht 
of  the  11th  the  second  parallel  was  commenced,  and 
completed  on  the  14th.     On  that  evening  a  brilliant  and 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  59 

successful  assault  was  made  upon  the  enemy's  redoubts. 
On  the  15th  the  enemy  made  an  ineffectual  sortie.  On 
the  17th  CornwaUis  sent  a  message  preliminary  to  a 
surrender.  On  the  19th,  articles  of  capitulation  were 
signed ;  and  the  British  forces,  land  and  naval,  were  all 
prisoners  of  war.  Virginia  and  the  Middle  States  were 
wholly  rescued  from  the  foe.  The  work  was  done,  and 
the  Independence  of  America  placed  beyond  all  further 
doubt. 

This  crowning  victory  of  the  Eevolutionary  conflict 
was  accomplished  within  two  months  from  the  starting 
of  the  allied  army  from  the  Hudson.  Whoever  examines 
the  map,  and  marks  the  distances  and  the  route  travelled, 
considers  the  sultriness  of  the  season  in  that  region, 
particularly  during  the  first  month  of  the  march,  and 
takes  into  view  the  unavoidable  difficulties  of  the  travel 
and  transportation  of  large  bodies  of  troops  in  those  days 
over  a  country  so  intersected  by  rivers  and  bays,  must 
feel  that  the  movement  was  indeed  a  splendid  achieve- 
ment of  organization,  energy,  and  strategic  skill. 

Of  course  the  burden  of  the  great  work  was  chiefly 
on  Washington  himself,  whose  personal  labors  were  im- 
mense. His  mind  conceived  the  plan ;  his  wisdom 
guided  its  progress  ;  and  his  prowess  and  force  of  will 
pressed  it  on  to  consummation.  Xo  one,  however,  was 
more  careful  than  he  was  that  the  honor  of  the  vrork 
should  be  justly  shared  by  all  who  participated  in  it. 
Carrying  the  cannon,  with  all  their  appendages,  over 
such  a  long  and  rough  route,  was  one  of  the  principal 
difficulties.  That  was  the  service  committed  to  General 
Knox,  at  the  head  of  the  artillery  through  the  war. 
Washington  bore  testimony,  in  frequent  expressions,  to 


60  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKKRING. 

the  ability  of  that  distinguished  officer,  in  the  execution 
of  his  trust  on  this  occasion. 

At  the  conference  just  mentioned,  on  the  14th  of 
August,  1781,  between  Washington  and  Colonel  Picker- 
ing, the  latter  acting  in  the  double  capacity  of  consult- 
ing and  co-operative  member  of  the  Board  of  War  and 
Quartermaster- General  of  the  army,  all  the  arrangements 
were  consummated  for  the  transferrence  of  the  allied 
forces  from  the  Hudson  to  James  Kiver.  The  necessary 
papers  were  drawn  up,  and  orders  prepared.  The  dis- 
tances and  the  times  of  movements  and  junctions  of  the 
forces  ascertained  and  determined  ;  the  quantities  and 
descriptions  of  supplies  by  the  way  agreed  upon;  all 
materials  and  equipments  calculated  and  provided  for, 
and  the  requisite  means  of  transportation  estimated  and 
arranged.  The  great  work  was  comprehended,  in  all 
its  multiplex  details.  They  separated  and  did  not  meet 
again,  until  the  whole  programme  had  been  carried  out 
and  the  allied  army  were  moving  directly  upon  York- 
town.  Washington  conducted  his  troops,  and  at  every 
point  the  arrangements  of  the  Quartermaster-General 
were  found  completed  and  ready  to  meet  them. 

Nearly  twenty-nine  years  afterwards,  General  Henry 
Lee  wrote  to  Joseph  Lewis : — 

"  I  must  trouble  you  to  inquire,  and  Coloilel  Pickering 
can  tell  you.  What  was  the  mode  of  march  of  the  allied  army 
from  the  Hudson  to  York  in  Virginia,  under  AVashington  ? 
What  part  came  by  water,  and  what  by  land  ?  Did  one 
division  embark  at  the  Head  of  Elk,  and  a  second  at  Bal- 
timore ?  Did  the  part  proceeding  by  land  pass  through 
Baltimore  or  Frederictown  ?  Who  succeeded  Scammel  as 
Adjutant-General  ?  And  was  he  Adjutant-General  when  he 
was  killed  near  York  ?  " 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING  61 

Joseph  Lewis  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives in  Congress  from  Virginia.  Nicholas 
Oilman  was  a  Senator  from  New  Hampshire.  Colonel 
Pickering  replied  to  Mr.  Lewis's  inquiry,  April  26th, 
1810,  thus:— 

"  I  have  delayed  an  answer  to  your  note,  enclosing  General 
Lee's  questions,  in  the  hope  to  obtain  full  and  correct  infor- 
mation ;  fur  I  was  not  with  the  army  on  its  march  from  the 
Hudson  to  York  in  Virginia.  Having  made  the  necessary 
arrangements  for  the  movement  of  the  troops  and  the  trans- 
portation of  the  stores  requisite  for  the  siege,  pursuant  to  the 
orders  of  the  Commander-in-Chief,  and  the  troops  having 
commenced  their  march,  I  went  myself  to  my  family,  then 
above  the  Highlands,  at  New^burgh,  and  thence  proceeded  to 
Philadelphia,  where  I  was  occupied  some  time  about  the 
requisite  pecuniary  arrangements  with  the  Superintendent 
of  Finance  ;  so  that  I  did  not  join  the  army  until  a  short 
time  before  we  marched  from  the  neighborhood  of  Williams- 
burg to  York  to  commence  the  siege. 

"  Colonel  Scammel  resigned  the  office  of  Adjutant-General 
some  time  in  1780.  This  fact  I  have  from  Mr.  Gilman,  who 
was  his  assistant,  and  joined  his  successor.  General  Hand,  in 
the  same  capacity.  Hand  was  the  Adjutant-General  w^ith  the 
army  at  York. 

'*  Scammel  commanded  a  detachment  at  York.  He  was 
officer  of  the  day  when  he  received  his  mortal  wound,  and  in 
the  act  of  reconnoitrino;  to  ascertain  whether  the  enemv 
had  (^according  to  appearances)  really  evacuated  some  out- 
posts. 

"  When  General  Washington  informed  me  of  the  destination 
of  the  French  fleet  for  the  Chesapeake,  instead  of  New  York, 
and  gave  me  orders  to  provide  for  the  march  of  the  troops  to 
York,  he  strongly  expressed  his  disappointment.  '  There  is 
now,'  he  said,  '  no  enterprise  remaining  for  the  campaign,  but 
to  attempt  the  capture  of  the  aimy  of  Cornwallis  in  Virginia  ; 
and  in  tliat  I  am  not  sanguine  of  success.'  " 


02  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

In  a  maririiuil  note  to  this  letter,  Colonel  Pickering 
savs : — 

* 

"  There  were  about  thirty  largo  batteaux  transported  from 
the  Hudson  to  the  Mead  of  Elk,  in  which  as  many  troops 
embarked  as  they  would  carry.  Mr.  Oilman  tells  me  that 
these  were  Colonel  Olney's  regiment  from  Rliode  Island  ; 
and  he  coniirms  what  was  on  my  mind,  that  in  the  mouth  of 
the  Potomac  the  wind  was  high  and  the  batteaux  in  extreme 
danjjer  of  founderinG^." 

Ivichard  Taylor  was  a  Captain  in  the  naval  service  of 
the  United  States  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  He 
had  rendered  valuable  service,  and  was  commonly  known 
as  Commodore  Taylor.  He  was  present  at  the  siege 
of  Yorktown,  and  thirty-five  years  afterwards  wrote  to 
Colonel  Pickering  from  Frankfort,  Kentucky,  November, 
17th,  1816.  An  extract  from  his  letter  gives  informa- 
tion of  interest  as  to  that  siege  and  its  result  in  the 
surrender  of  Cornwallis,  and  as  to  the  details  of  a  part 
he  bore  in  it  under  the  directions  of  Colonel  Pickering. 

"  I  had  the  pleasure  of  a  short  acquaintance  with  you  at 
the  siege  of  York,  1781,  which  I  always  shall  remember  with 
heartfelt  gratitude ;  and  the  friendly  treatment  and  respect  I 
received  from  you  at  that  time  induces  me  to  inform  you  in 
part  what  I  have  suffered  since,  by  an  obstinate  old  wound  I 
received  in  our  Revolutionary  war.  As  you.  Sir,  was  Quar- 
termaster-General at  the  siege  of  York,  I  had  the  honor  to  be 
introduced  to  you  by  General  Nelson,  then  Governor  of  Vir- 
ginia. He  asked  me  how  my  wound  was.  He  lived  in  Y^ork 
when  I  was  landed  there,  and  well  knew  in  what  manner  I 
got  my  wound,  for  I  lay  in  York  six  months.  I  mentioned 
that  my  wound  was  not  then  closed  up,  but  I  could  go  about 
a  little  with  my  crutches.  Being  anxious  in  seeing  the  siege 
going  on,  I,  with  a  few  others,  hired  a  pilot-boat,  and  got,  the 
night  before,  to  the  landing  on  James  River.  Sir,  you  asked 
me  if  I  would  venture  to  take  charge  of  eight  Bay  craft,  lay- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  63 

ing  off  the  landing,  in  James  River,  wliich  were  pressed  into 
the  service,  and  go  round  with  them  up  the  Rappahannock, 
for  stores  that  were  deposited  at  different  places  in  the  river. 
I  well  remember,  Sir,  that  you,'  in  an  expressive  manner,  men- 
tioned that,  should  timely  supplies  not  be  got  there,  there 
was  danger  of  being  obliged  to  raise  the  siege.  That  ex- 
pression roused  me.  I  immediately  agreed  to  take  charge  of 
the  vessels,  as  you  had  so  much  confidence  in  me  ;  and,  as 
soon  as  mv  instructions,  &c.,  were  made  out  and  received,  I 
lost  no  time  in  getting  on  board,  for  my  baggage  was  in  the 
boat  I  came  there  in.  I  soon  made  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments, and  got  all  under  way.  Every  thing  favored  us  until 
we  got  off  the  mouth  of  Rappahannock  River.  There  it  fell 
calm.  It  being  ebb-tide,  we  anchored.  During  the  calm,  I 
was  boarded  by  a  large  barge  of  sixteen  or  eighteen  oars, 
armed  with  small  arms,  besides  carrying  a  small  cannon  in  her 
bow.  I  was  asked  if  we  had  seen,  as  we  came  up  the  Bay 
that  morning,  any  row-boat  or  barge  ;  that  they  had,  the 
night  before,  a  very  severe  action  with  one  about  her  build  and 
size.  They  had  several  of  their  men  killed  and  wounded,  but 
expected  the  enemy  met  with  greater  loss.  They  had  put  their 
wounded  ashore,  got  more  men,  and  were  then  in  search  of 
their  antagonist.  I  thought  we  were  very  fortunate  that  we 
did  not  meet,  or  fall  in  with,  any  of  the  enemy's  boats.  It  was 
said  they  Avere  doing  a  great  deal  of  mischief  in  the  Bay  at 
that  time  ;  which  I  expect  you  recollect  was  the  case,  as  it 
was  currently  spoken  of.  And,  no  doubt,  the  object  was  to 
cut  off  supphes  getting  to  our  army.  Soon  after  the  gunboat 
left  us,  a  favorable  breeze  sprung  up.  We  all  got  under  way. 
One  of  our  fleet  was  slow  in  crowding  sail.  I  did  not  suspect 
any  ill  design  ;  but  as  soon  as  the  rest  of  us  got  in  the  chops  of 
the  Rappahannock  River,  she  bore  away,  and  crowded  all 
sail  up  the  Bay.  I  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to  leave  the  other 
vessels  to  pursue  her,  but  was  more  cautious,  and  kept  them 
ahead  of  me.  At  the  different  deposits  on  the  river  I  went 
ashore,  made  the  necessary  arrangements,  and  pushed  up  to 
Fredericksburg,  delivered  your  letter  to  Colonel  Richard 
Young,  your  deputy  there.  As  soon  as  the  vessels  could  be 
loaded,  they  were  pushed  down  to  the  rendezvous  at  Hobbs's 


64  UVE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKKRIXG. 

Hole.  No  time  was  lost ;  for,  in  less  than  ten  days,  we  all 
met,  and  started  from  Ilobbs's  Hole.  The  next  morning 
after,  we  got  near  the  mouth  of  the  Rappahannock  River. 
There  we  came  to,  and  inquired  whether  any  barges  had 
been  seen  about  the  mouth  of  the  river  the  day  before.  Hear- 
iner  of  none,  on  the  vouncr  ebb,  and  the  wind  favorable,  we 
got  under  way,  and  pushed  down  the  Bay,  wishing  to  get  as 
low  down  as  where  the  French  fleet  lay  by  night".  We  did 
more  ;  for,  before  ten  at  night,  we  all  got  safe  up  to  Hamp- 
ton Road,  as  far  as  Newport's  News  ;  and  the  next  day  we 
all  got  up  James  River,  to  the  place  we  first  departed  from. 
Tt  was  three  days  before  Cornw^allis  surrendered,  and  it  gave 
me  the  greatest  satisfaction  that  you  and  General  Nelson 
were  well  pleased  with  the  despatch  I  had  made.  To  con- 
vince me  of  it,  you  indulged  me  with  a  stand,  in  ten  steps  of 
General  Washington,  where  I  saw  General  O'Hara  at  the 
head  of  his  troops,  marching  out  to  surrender.  He  halted 
first  on  the  left,  and  was  about  making  his  apology  to  the 
French.  The  French  General  pointed  him  over  to  General 
Washington,  on  the  right ;  there  O'Hara  apologized  for 
Cornwallis  not  coming  out ;  that  he  was  sick  (heart-sick,  no 
doubt)." 

The  fact  that  there  was  no  detention  on  the  march 
from  the  Hudson  to  the  Head  of  Elk,  but  that,  on  the 
contrary,  the  forces  reached  that  point  in  a  day  short  of 
that  fixed  in  the  programme,  demonstrates  the  foresight, 
vigilance,  and  ability,  as  well  as  the  consummate  organ- 
ization that  administered  the  Quartermaster's  depart- 
ment. The  requisite  supplies  met  the  dififerent  columns 
at  every  point.  Means  of  transportation  were  provided, 
and  found  in  readiness  everywhere  ;  and  the  batteaux 
from  the  Hudson  were  waiting  at  the  Head  of  Elk  to  be 
launched.  The  credit  of  this  is  undoubtedly  chiefly  due 
to  Colonel  Pickering,  who,  in  fulfilling  so  perfectly  this 
important  part  in  the  conduct  of  armies,  and  the  manage- 


lifl:  of  timotfiy  picketing.  65 

ment  of  war,  justified  entirely  the  high  reputation  for 
military  talents  with  which  he  entered  the  armv. 

Volume  Ivi.  of  Colonel  Pickering's  manuscripts, 
now  to  be  put  in  possession  of  the  ^lassachusetts 
Historical  Society,  consists  of  original  papers,  connected 
with  bis  whole  military  seryice,  from  raisim^  and  disci- 
plining  his  own  and  other  militia  companie's,  in  Salem  and 
the  vicinity,  prior  to  the  Reyolutionary  war,  to  its  close  ; 
and  the  final  settlenient  of  the  accounts  and  affairs  of 
the  Quartermaster-Generars  department.  This  volume 
is  of  the  highest  value  and  interest,  containing  receipts, 
orders,  original  commissions,  returns  of  companies,  regi- 
ments, brigades,  and  the  whole  Continental  army,  at 
different  periods  ;  plans  of  encampment,  at  West  Point 
and  in  winter-quarters  ;  orders  of  battle  ;  procuring  of 
forage  and  supplies  ;  and,  in  fact,  covering  all  the  de- 
tails of  business  in  maintaining  the  army  and  conducting 
the  war.  Xo where  else,  probably,  can  such  an  inside 
view  be  obtained  of  the  processes  in  operation,  from  the 
beginning  to  the  end,  to  sustain  and  carry  on  the  con- 
flict. The  unwearied  cares  of  the  Adjutant,  and  Quar- 
termaster-General, and  his  vast  labor,  are  ilhistrated,  and 
the  richest  materials  presented  to  the  minute  explorer 
and  historical  student. 

Personal  courage  is,  of  course,  an  essential  element 
of  a  soldier's  character,  whether  in  the  ranks  or  in  com- 
mand. As  to  Colonel  Pickering,  on  this  point  there 
never  was  a  question  in  any  one's  mind.  It  was  proved 
by  the  bold  counsels  he  gave  on  the  field  of  battle  and 
>  under  the  deadliest  fire.  It  was  shown  in  all  his  actions 
j  and  utterances.  That  he  was  a  man  of  nerve  was 
written  on  every  movement  and  every  expression.     His 

Vol.  II.  5 


CC)  LIFK   OF  TIMOTHY    I'lCKKKlNG. 

conntonancc,  friime,  and  boaring  were  stamped  with  the 
Iruo  heroic  aspect.  The  opinion  to  this  effect,  univer- 
sally entertained,  stood  tlie  sternest  and  most  sensitive 
test  to  which  tlie  reputation  of  a  military  man  can  be 
subjected.     He  refused  to  fight  a  duel. 

In  the  previous  volume  (chap,  xxiii.  p.  341),  an  affair 
of  this  kind  is  related.  An  officer,  feeling  himself 
wronired,  sent  him  a  challenj]re.  The  Colonel  stated  to 
the  gentlemen  who  bore  it.  that  in  no  event  whatever 
would  he  fight  a  duel.  If  he  had  in  any  way  wronged 
their  friend,  he  was  wholly  unconscious  of  it;  and  if 
it  were  made  to  appear  that  he  had  done  so,  he  would 
be  ready  to  repair  the  wrong.  He  invited  an  examina- 
tion of  the  whole  matter,  which  was  had.  The  result 
was  that  he  became  satisfied  that  the  difficulty  had  arisen 
from  a  misapprehension  on  his  part,  which  had  led  to 
certain  expressions  of  which  the  gentleman  complained. 
Immediately  upon  discovering  this,  he  made  all  the  ex- 
planatory statements  which  truth  and  justice  required. 
Here  we  see  a  high  military  officer,  at  the  head  of  a 
department  of  an  army,  in  a  time  of  war,  not  only  abso- 
lutely refusing  to  fight  a  duel,  but  actually  making  repa- 
ration to  the  aggrieved  party,  in  the  form  of  a  retractation. 
He  took  this  course,  and  no  breath  of  detraction  or 
insinuation  as  to  his  courage  arose  from  any  quarter. 
There  co.uld  be  no  greater  proof  than  this,  that  his 
character  for  personal  bravery  was  immovably  estab- 
lished through  the   army  and  country. 

This  was  not  the  first  instance  in  which  Colonel  Pick- 
ering refused  to  fight  a  duel.  Before  the  Revolution, 
at  a  time  when  his  reputation  as  an  officer  was  as  dear 
to  him  as  ever  afterwards,  and  as  important  to  be  pre- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  67 

served  above  suspicion,  while  taking  the  lead  in  raising 
a  military  spirit  among  his  fellow-citizens  and  coun- 
trymen generally,  organizing  companies,  drilling  that 
under  his  own  command,  and  preparing  for  the  publi- 
cation of  a  work  on  the  art  of  war,  he  became  involved 
in  a  bitter  newspaper  controversy  with  a  surgeon  of 
the  British  army,  arising  out  of  the  establishment  of  a 
small-pox  hospital.  It  is  noticed  in  chapter  iii.  of  the 
preceding  volume.  The  Doctor,  stung  to  the  quick  by 
the  pungency  of  Pickering's  pieces,  took  initiatory  steps 
to  call  him  out ;  and  a  challenge,  it  was  given  to  be 
understood,  was  forthcoming.  Pickering  caused  it  to 
be  known  that  he  should  not  accept  a  challenge.  The 
friends  of  the  Doctor  at  once  began  to  bring  his  courage 
in  question  ;  whereupon  he  published  an  article  in  the 
''Essex  Gazette,"  March  29th,  1774,  giving  his  senti- 
ments on  the  subject  of  duelling,  in  which  he  denounced 
it  as  the  product  of  "  Gothic  ignorance  and  brutality." 
He  says  of  his  exasperated  antagonist  that  he  "  thought 
it  not  only  possible  but  very  probable  that  he  would 
demand  c?is-honorable  amends."  He  intimates  that  he 
had  for  some  time  expected  such  a  step  to  be  taken. 
"  This  apprehension,"  he  proceeds  to  say,  "  did  not 
restrain  my  pen,  nor  cause  me  to  dash  a  single  letter. 
This  barbarous  custom,"  he  continues,  "  still  remains 
the  disgrace  of  the  army,  and  of  a  few  others,  alike 
actuated  with  a  false  sense  of  honor,  who  dare  spurn  at 
Heaven's  best  gift.  If  cowardice  is  mv  crime,  whv  did 
my  pen  move  on,  with  such  apprehensions  as  then  took 
place?  Why  do  I  yet  continue  to  write?  Do  I  hide 
myself  from  the  face  of  men  ?  Am  I  not  daily  to  be 
seen  ?     I  value  life,  and  should  be  loth  to  lose  it  by  the 


68  LIFE   OF   TrMOTIIT   PICKERING. 

hand  of  an  assassin  ;  but  more  I  value  truth.  I  appeal 
to  those  who  know  me  best,  and  they  alone  can  judge 
whether  my  conduct  in  this,  or  any  other  affairs  of  my 
life,  has  been  the  effect  of  timidity,  of  a  pliant  prudence 
which  accommodates  itself  to  times  and  circumstances, 
or  of  that  virtue  which  knows  no  fear?  Hie  ccestus 
armaque  reponoT 

Upon  this  the  Doctor  notified  him  that  he  should 
attack  him  at  sight,  and  wherever  met.  Pickering  sent 
back  word,  that  "  he  would  find  him  as  ready  to  protect 
his  person  against  an  assassin  as  the  community  against 
a  quack  and  impostor." 

Here  the  matter  ended.  The  aspect  of  Pickering 
was  altogether  too  formidable  to  render  it  expedient 
for  any   ordinary  man  to  grapple  with  him. 

These  incidents  have  been  mentioned  because  they 
demonstrate  real  courage  of  the  highest  order.  Colonel 
Pickering,  w^hile  in  military  command  and  in  the  heat 
of  war,  dared  to  rise  above  what  has  been  called  "  the 
code  of  honor,"  and  denounce  it  in  terms  it  deserves, 
as  an  outrage  upon  common  sense,  the  spirit  of  civili- 
zation, and  the  very  name  of  religion.  His  course,  in 
this  particular,  is  most  memorable.  The  example  is 
glorious,  and  for  ever  to  be  held  up,  especially  in  view 
of  his  position  and  reputation  as  a  soldier.  Ijb  entitles 
his  name  to  be  inscribed  in  unfading  and  the  brightest 
colors  on  the  roll  of  the  world's  heroes. 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  69 


CHAPTEH  III. 

Pickering  and  Washington. 
1775-1783. 

There  is  one  point  which  must  be  noticed  in  the 
biography  of  Colonel  Pickering,  and  may  as  well  be 
considered  and  despatched  in  this  review  of  his  connec- 
tion with  the  Revolutionary  Army. 

I  At  times,  especially  in  the  prevalence  of  violent 
party  animosities,   it  was  brought  as  a    charge  against 

'  him,  that  he  did  not  appreciate  the  character  of  Wash- 
ington, but  cherished  towards  him  a  prejudice,  if  it  did 
not  amount  to  actual  hostility.  In  the  form  in  which 
this  allegation  was  usually  put,  it  was  wholly  unjust  and 
directly  opposite  to  the  truth  ;  but,  to  a  certain  extent 
and  in  one  sense,  th^re  was  some  apparent  ground  for 
it.  He  was  sometimes  noticed  to  abstain  from  join- 
ing in    unqualified    and    extravagant    eulogiums    upon 

'  Washington.  This  circumstance  was  liable  to  be  mis- 
interpreted. It  is,  however,  entirely  explicable  by  con- 
siderations honorable  to   both  parties. 

Colonel  Pickering,  either  constitutionally  in  the  orig- 
inal frame  of  his  mind,  or  by  his  whole  training  and 
all  his  habits  of  thought,  or  by  both,  was  an  abhorrer 
of  man-worship.  This  marked  his  character  in  every 
stage  and  every  sphere  of  his  life,  and  was  apparent 
in  his  language,  actions,  and  manners.  Perhaps  in 
the  Revolutionary  crisis  this  repugnance  to  idolize  any 


70  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

person  was  entertained  with  peculiar  sensitiveness.  It 
has  always  been  a  fatality,  attending  popular  struggles 
for  liberty,  that  they  have  eYided  in  the  establishment 
of  absolute  authority.  Successful  champions  of  the 
cause,  particularly  if  surrounded  with  the  halo  of  mili- 
tary glory,  have  become  objects  of  blind  admiration, 
gratitude,  and  confidence  ;  and  enthroned  as  such.  It 
is  quite  likely  that  Colonel  Pickering  seriously  appre- 
hended the  possibility  of  such  a  termination  of  the 
War  of  Independence.  How  much  ground  there  was 
for  such  an  apprehension  is  not,  perhaps,  fully  under- 
stood ;  and,  for  that  reason,  may  with  propriety  be 
briefly  stated. 

Washington,  more  than  any  other  popular  chieftain 
in  history,  had  the  qualities  that  might  have  led  men 
to  confer  upon  him  supreme  and  unrestrained  power. 
There  was  a  sovereignty  in  his  aspect,  stature,  and 
countenance.  He  was  every  inch  a  king.  His  dignity 
of  carriage,  and  reserve  of  manner,  inspired  reverence  ; 
while  the  great  office  he  filled,  the  executive  power  with 
which  he  filled  it,  and  the  confidence  which  his  country 
felt  in  his  fidelity  and  patriotism,  inspired  admiration. 
His  well-known  personal  bravery,  and  the  charmed  life 
he  had  borne  in  his  early  campaigns  against  French 
and  Indians,  invested  him  with  the  dazzle  of  an  heroic 
character,  and  gave  occasion  to  expressions  of  the  most 
extravagant  nature.  The  sort  of  influence  he  had, 
from  these  causes  was  perhaps  regarded  with  some 
uneasiness  by  considerate  persons,  as  liable  to  become 
dangerous. 

Colonel  Pickering  took  care  not  to  increase  this  dan- 
ger, and  that  no  boundless  personal  adulation  towards 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY^   PICKERING.  71 

any  man  should  be  laid  at  his  door.  Hence  his  avoid- 
ance of  the  language  of  unqualified  eulogium  when 
speaking  even  of  Washington,  and  his  disrelish  for 
every  thing,  in  word  or  deed,  that  looked  like  fawning 
or  flattery.  It  may  be  that  his  feelings  became  morbid 
on  this  point ;  but  they  were  sincere,  genuine,  and  deep. 
In  a  letter  to  his  brother-in-law,  Paine  Wingate,  dated 
March  12th,  1782,  he  says  :  — 

"  Since  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  and  my  sister,  you 
have  had  a  son  born,  whom  you  have  named  Geoege,  as  I 
understand  ;  but  that  it  was  problematical  whether  you  meant 
thereby  to  honor  that  name  on  this  or  the  other  side  of  the 
Atlantic.  I  presume,  however,  that  you  value  your  own 
dignity,  and  that  of  human  nature,  too  highly  to  idolize 
either." 

It  may  appear  strange,  if  not  almost  ridiculous,  that 
Colonel  Pickering's  mind  should  have  been  so  seriously 
exercised  as  to  have  led  him  to  such  an  expression  of 
repugnance  to  giving  that  name  to  a  child,  w^hether  in 
reference  to  George  on  the  throne  of  England,  or  George 
at  the  head  of  the  Americaa  army. 

On  the  subject  of  names  given  to  children.  Colonel 
Pickering  seems  to  have  had  certain  decided  opinions. 
Perhaps  he  inherited  them.  His  father  had  two  sons 
and  seven  daughters,  all  with  plain  single  names,  such  as 
were  common  in  those  days.  The  Colonel  had  eight  sons 
and  two  daughters.  He,  like  his  father,  avoided  giving 
any  of  them  the  names  of  persons  outside  of  the  family, 
whether  private  friends  or  favorite  public  characters. 
Probably  they  both  regarded  it  as  a  species  of  adulation. 
No  man  cherished  warmer  or  stronger  particular  friend- 
ships   than    Colonel    Pickering,    in    the    Revolutionary 


72  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERIXG. 

period  and  afterwards.  He  loved  Hichard  Peters  with 
an  affection  like  that  of  a  brother.  He  was  bound  to 
Alexander  Hamilton  by  all  military  and  political  sympa- 
thies and  intimacies,  and  regarded  his  public  services 
witli  admiration.  But  he  did  not  name  a  child  after 
either.  Nothing  could  have  brought  him  to  what  he 
probably  would  have  felt  to  be  an  expression  of  personal 
sycophancy.  He  gave  to  his  first  two  sons  the  long-estab- 
lished family  names  ;  to  the  next  five,  such  good,  cur- 
rent, accepted  English  names  as  he  fancied.  When  the 
eighth  child  was  born,  having  exhausted  the  common 
names  that  suited  him,  he  called  him  Octavius.  So 
with  the  two  daughters,  his  last  born.  He  gave  them 
what  he  considered  the  most  accredited  and  best  Eng- 
lish  single   names. 

These  facts  are  mentioned  because  they  illustrate 
what  may  be  regarded  as  a  singular  if  not  over-sen- 
sitive peculiarity  of  his  character,  —  a  repugnance  to 
whatever  might  look  like  flattering  others  or  a  want  of 
self-respect.  They  may  explain,  m  part,  the  language  in 
his  letter  to  his  brother-in-law,  but  not  wholly.  It  has 
a  force  and  pungency  of  meaning  that  demands  further 
explanation.  The  date  of  that  letter  leads  to  a  fuller 
appreciation  of  the  sentiments  covered  by  the  expres- 
sion. Facts  were,  at  that  time,  occurring  around  him 
which  led  him  to  be  particularly  annoyed  by  any  thing 
like  man-worship,  especially  in  his  own  family.  A 
movement  was  actually  then  in  agitation  to  induce  Wash- 
ington to  assume  absolute  power :  how  far  it  extended, 
and  who  were  concerned  in  it,  will  never  be  fully 
known.  If  he  had  not  sternly  rebuked  it,  —  in  other 
words,  if  Washington  had  not  been  of  a  grander  nature 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERIisG.  73 

than  other  triumphant  commanders,  —  there  is  no  saying 
what  would  have  been  the  result.  There  is  reason  to 
believe  that  the  project  had  a  considerable  currency  in 
the  army.  The  suggestion  was  at  length  made  directly 
to  the  General,  and  urged  upon  his  consent,  in  a  letter 
from  an  officer  of  respectable  character  and  rank,  who 
represented  himself  as  conveying  the  sentiments  of 
many  other  officers.  Washington's  answer,  dated  May 
22d,  1782,  effectually  suppressed  the  design  by  the  fol- 
lowing stern  denunciation :  — 

"  Be  assured,  Sir,  no  occurrence  in  the  course  of  the  war 
has  given  me  more  painful  sensations  than  your  information 
of  there  being  such  ideas  existing  in  the  army  as  you  have 
expressed,  and  I  must  view  with  abhorrence  and  reprehend 
with  severity.  I  am  much  at  a  loss  to  conceive  what  part  of 
my  conduct  could  have  given  encouragement  to  an  address 
which  to  me  seems  big  with  the  greatest  mischiefs  that  can 
befall  my  country.  If  I  am  not  deceived  in  the  knowledge  of 
myself,  you  could  not  have  found  a  person  to  whom  ^^our 
schemes  are  more  disagreeable.  Let  me  conjure  you,  then, 
if  you  have  any  regard  for  your  country,  concern  for  yourself 
or  posterity,  or  respect  for  me,  to  banish  these  thoughts  from 
your  mind,  and  never  communicate,  as  from  yourself  or  any 
one  else,  a  sentiment  of  the  hke  nature." 

The  language  of  Washington,  and  all  the  circum- 
stances known  to  us  relating  to  this  extraordinary  affair, 
indicate  that  considerable  numbers  were  implicated  in 
it.  While  this  project  was  actually  brewing  in  the 
army,  it  is  no  wonder  that  Colonel  Pickering's  feelings 
were  highly  excited  against  idolizing  any  man,  in  any 
form  or  shape,  and  that  he  wrote  as  he  did  to  Judge 
M'ingate.  That  his  nervous  dislike  of  naming  a  child 
George  was  owing  to  the  circumstances  now  described, 


74  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

is  quite  evident  from  the  fact  that  when  the  war  had 
long  been  over,  the  army  disbanded,  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States  in  full  operation,  and  all  apprehen- 
sion of  a  monarchy  had  passed  away,  he  named  a  son  of 
his  own,  born  August  7th,  1789,  George,  not,  of  course, 
in  reference  to  Washington  or  any  other  man,  but 
because  it  was  agreeable  to  his  taste  and  fancy,  as  in 
itself  a  good  English   name. 

Colonel  Pickering,  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  was 
so  apprehensive  that  mischief  might  arise  from  the 
prevalence  of  unbounded  expressions  of  blind  adula- 
tion towards  Washington,  that  every  indication  of  such 
a  tendency  attracted  his  attention,  and  made  an  impres- 
sion on  his  mind.  In  a  letter  to  Richard  Peters,  of  Jan- 
uary 17th,  1811,  he  says:  — 

"  When,  in  the  autumn  of  1780,  the  army  was  preparing 
to  hut  in  the  wood  back  of  Newburgh,  the  General  being  a 
httle  advanced  of  me  (in  going  over  the  ground  selected  for 
the  hutment),  a  countryman  fell  along-side,  and  looking  for- 
ward to  the  General,  said  to  me,  '  Now,  I  suppose  he  is  the 
greatest  man  in  the  world ! '  Excessive  admiration  is  the  off- 
spring of  ignorance.  In  reading  the  history  of  the  Israelites, 
in  my  early  life,  I  used  to  wonder  at  their  proneness  to  idol- 
atry ;  but  I  have  since  had  occasion  to  remark,  that  it  is  the 
disposition  of  the  mass  of  mankind  at  this  day  ;  the  differ- 
ence is  that  the   former  worshipped   dead  idols,    the  latter 


hving  ones. 


5) 


This  circumstance,  with  the  sentiments  it  suggested, 
had  remained  on  his  memory  for  more  than  thirty 
years. 

It  must  be  conceded,  however,  that  Colonel  Pickering 
gave  other  grounds  than  have  now  been  mentioned  for 
the  imputation  that  he  was  not  an  unqualified  admirer 


LIFE   or  TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  75 

of  Washington.  He  frequently  used  modified  language 
in  speaking  of  him.  It  is  a  matter  of  justice  to  both 
parties  to  know  what  such  qualified  expressions  meant 
and  amounted  to. 

An  intrigue  or  cabal,  as  it  was  called,  had,  in  the 
year  1777,  been  secretly  going  on  in  the  army,  for  the 
purpose  of  breaking  down  Washington  and  putting 
General  Gates  in  his  place.  The  brilliant  success  of 
the  latter,  in  the  campaign  against  Burgoyne,  gave  it 
great  encouragement,  and  it  continued  into  the  next 
year,  when,  like  every  other  attempt  against  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, it  fell  to  the  ground.  While  it  lasted, 
all  sorts  of  means  were  resorted  to,  to  give  it  force  and 
bring  it  to  a  head.  Slanderous  insinuations  were  every- 
where circulated  against  Washington,  and  Gates  was 
extolled  without  measure.  He  was  an  officer  of  great 
merit  and  ability,  of  uncommon  accomplishments,  and 
fine  personal  bearing  and  aspect.  A  strong  attachment 
seems  to  have  existed  between  him  and  Colonel  Picker- 
ing, as  appears  by  many  interesting  letters  that  passed 
between  them  during  a  long  period,  extending  to  the  close 
of  Gates's  life.  But  Pickering  could  never  be  brought 
to  countenance  the  attempt  to  place  him  above  Washing- 
ton. In  a  letter  to  William  Pickman  of  Salem,  who 
had  married  one  of  his  nieces  and  was  among  his  most 
valued  correspondents,  dated  March  24:th,  1778,  there 
are  the  following  passages :  — 

''  With  regard  to  General  Gates,  I  live  upon  the  most 
friendly  terms  with  and  respect  him  ;  but  I  am  not  disposed 
to  elevate  anv  mortal  into  a  God,  nor  on  the  other  hand  to 
detract  from  real  merit.  General  Gates  possesses  many  mili- 
tary virtues.     He  is  a  man  of  sense,  and  has  had  great  expe- 


76  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

rieiice  ;  and  much  credit  is  doubtless  due  to  him  for  the 
successes  of  the  last  campaign." " 

''  The  slanders  propagated  of  General  Washington  are 
opposed  by  the  general  current  of  the  people  and  army  ;  and 
by  whatever  persons,  or  for  whatever  purposes,  they  were  at 
first  raised  and  spread,  the  actors  must  have  been  disap- 
pointed. But  to  exalt  General  Gates  at  General  Washing- 
ton's expense  was  still  more  injurious." 

''  If  there  be  a  disinterested  patriot  in  America,  'tis  Gen- 
eral Washington,  and  his  bravery  none  can  dispute.  In 
point  of  solid  judgment  I  do  not,  among  all  the  general  offi- 
cers I  have  met  with,  know  his  superior  ;  and  for  attention 
to  business,  perhaps  he  has  no  equal ;  but,  hke  other  men,  he 
has  his  imperfections." 

The  modifying  clause,  appended  to  this  substantial 
and  very  strong  eulogium,  if  it  stood  alone  might  pos- 
sibly be  regarded  as  a  mere  truism,  applicable  to  all 
human  beings,  from  the  universal  fallibility  and  limita- 
tion of  their  natures,  or  added  solely  from  a  repugnance 
to  unqualified  panegyric  of  any  one  whomsoever.  But 
the  use  of  similar  expressions  elsewhere,  relating  to 
Washington,  in  writing  and  in  conversation,  from  the 
connection  and  tenor  of  them,  seems  to  require  a  more 
specific  sense. 

All  the  evidence  belonging  to  the  history  of  Wash- 
ington, and  especially  the  general  reverence  for  him 
entertained  by  Pickering  and  others,  preclude  the  idea 
that  any  defects  of  personal  character,  having  a  shadow 
of  vice,  in  his  habits  or  life,  are  referred  to.  It  may,  in 
part,  have  related  to  his  deportment.  His  aspect  was 
uniformly  grave,  and  his  manners  reserved  to  an  extra- 
ordinary degree.  He  was  seldom,  if  ever,  known  to 
unbend  into  familiarity,  much  less  levity  of  conversation 
or  conduct.     It  was  not  hauteur  or  pride,  but  still  a 


LIFE   or   TIMOTHY,  PICKEKING.  77 

peculiarity  of  mien  that  separated  him  from  others.  It 
did  not  give  offence,  but  it  may  have  been  regretted  by 
those  about  him.  In  all  likelihood,  it  was  much  owing 
to  a  serious  and  ever-present  feeling  of  obligation  in  the 
discharge  of  duty.  He  realized  constantly,  and  most 
solemnly,  the  vast  responsibility  of  his  position.  /Xo 
man  ever  had  such  a  momentous  task  to  perform  :  to 
lead  the  people  of  a  great  country  to  liberty  and  inde- 
pendence through  the  vicissitudes  of  a  long  war  ;  to 
preside  over  its  organization  into  a  free  republic ;  to 
conduct  its  government  in  its  first  stages  ;  and  to  place 
it  upon  a  track  it  has  prosperously  travelled  for  a  cen- 
tury, and  bids  fair  to  travel  for  ever,  regenerating  by  its 
example  the  political  life  of  all  nations,  —  this  we  see  to 
have  been  the  mission  of  Washington.  He  could  not 
adequately  have  foreseen  it.  But  every  thing  that  pro- 
ceeded from  his  pen,  all  his  actions  and  expressions, 
show  that  he  was  daily  and  hourly  conscious  of  the 
incalculable  importance  of  the  cause  committed  and 
entrusted  to  his  keeping.  With  this  feeling  ever  in  his 
breast,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that,  from  the  moment 
when  he  drew  his  sword  at  the  head  of  the  armv  of  the 
Revolution  until  he  laid  it  down,  no  smile  was  seen  on 
his  countenance.  Then,  besides,  he  knew  the  perils 
and  difficulties  of  his  position  better  than  his  subordi- 
nates did,  and  more  than  it  would  have  been  well  for 
them  to  have  known.  That  restrained  communicative- 
ness. 

The  reserve  in  which,  for  these  and  other  reasons, 
he  held  himself,  must  have  been  sometimes  annovino^  to 
persons  immediately  connected  with  him,  particularly 
to  officers  of  his  staff,  who  were  members   of  his  mill- 


v. 


78  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

tary  family,  —  to  none,  perhaps,  more  than  to  Picker- 
ing, who  was  an  out-spoken  man,  not  accustomed  to 
suppress  his  emotions  or  conceal  his  thoughts.  It  is 
possible  that  he  regarded  the  trait  of  Washington's  man- 
ners that  has  now  been  described  as  an  imperfection. 

It  cannot  be  denied,  however,  and  the  truthfulness  of 
biography  requires  it  to  be  stated,  that  Colonel  Picker- 
ing took  exception  to  the  character  usually  ascribed  to 
Washington  beyond  what  can  be  covered  by  the  forego- 
ing considerations.  But  it  was  on  one  point  only.  He 
entertained  through  life  the  opinion  that  Washington's 
caution  was  carried  to  an  extreme,  on  certain  occasions 
in  his  military  command,  and,  perhaps,  in  one  or  two  cases, 
in  his  civil  administration.  An  over-anxious  desire  not 
to  take  a  false  step  led,  in  such  instances,  to  an  unfor- 
tunate delay  of  action ;  and  a  w^ant  of  decision  was,  in 
consequence,  at  such  times,  imputed  to  him.  Colonel 
Pickering  regarded .  this  a  defect  in  the  character  of 
Washington  as  a  General,  and  it  is  but  fair  to  allow  him 
to  give  the  grounds  for  this  opinion. 

In  1811  Richard  Peters  prepared  for  publication  in 
the  "  Memoirs  of  the  Philadelphia  Society  of  Agricult- 
ure," "  Sketches  "  of  President  Washington.  He  sent 
the  paper,  prior  to  its  publication,  to  Colonel  Picker- 
ing, with  a  request  that  he  would  revise  it,  making 
suggestions  for  its  improvement  with  a  free  criticism  ; 
so  far  as  it  related  to  the  character  of  Washins^ton,  it 
being  perfectly  understood  between  them  that,  in  some 
respects,  their  views  were  different.  In  reply  Colonel 
Pickering  made  such  suggestions  as  occurred  to  him 
as  to  the  structure  of  sentences,  and  the  illustration  of 
sentiments,  of  which  the  following  are  specimens  :  — 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  79 

"  Page  2,  line  10 :  You  have  a  '  strong  evidence  of  the 
strength  of  his  mind ; '  perhaps  you  would  substitute  clear 
or  striking  for  strong. 

"  Same  page,  lines  3  and  4  from  the  bottom,  ''gloomy  nor- 
rnine ; '  the   words  do   not  appear  so  different  in  their 
meaning  as  to  admit  of  a  contrast  by  a  disjunctive. 

"  Pag^e  3,  line  7 :  You  mark  with  inverted  commas  this 
}:assage,  in  'whose  hands  are  the  corners  of  the  earth,'  as  a 
Scripture  quotation.  I  thought  I  had  never  met  with  it. 
A  (ruden's  Concordance  being  within  my  reach,  I  have 
sear(  bed  and  cannot  find  it.  Daniel  (chap.  v.  23)  says  to 
BaLshazzar,  '  and  the  God  in  whose  hand  thy  breath  is,  and 
whose  are  all  thy  ways,  hast  thou  not  glorified  ; '  and  Isaiah 
(chap.  xi.  12)  says,  the  Lord  '  shall  gather  together  the  dis- 
persed of  Judah  from  the  four  corners  of  the  earth.'  But,  if 
the  words  were  to  be  found,  I  confess  I  do  not  see  their  perti- 
cy  on  the  occasion  ;  and  probably  the  most  of  your  readers, 
as  WQ-nting  in  discernment  as  I,  may  be  of  the  same  opinion. 
Is  xVhecau^e  the  corners  of  the  earth  are  in  the  hands  of  God, 
k^jhat  we  leceive  from  him  favors  and  blessings?  and  in  adver- 
sity do  we  submit  to  the  will  of  the  Omnipotent  because  '  the 
st  rength  of  the  hills  is  his  ?  '     It  would  be  natural  to  acknowl- 

tdige,  iu  prosperity,  the  favors  and  blessings  of  the  omnipo- 
ent  and  benevolent  Being,  'who  covereth  us  with  loving- 
kindness  and  tender  mercies'  (Psalms  ciii.  4)  ;  and  to  be 
submissive  to  his  will  '  whose  judgments  are  a  great  deep  * 
(Psalms  xxxvi.  6),  but  'true  and  righteous  altogether* 
(Psalms   xix.  9)." 

Aft€?r  despatching,  in  this  way,  amendments  verbal 
or  otherwise,  to  the  composition  of  the  "  Sketches," 
with  the  "  Preface  "attached  to  them, he  thus  addresses 
himself  l:o  their  main  subject,  —  the  character  of  General 
Washington :  — 

"  The  lc>ftj  eulogy  on  '  Our  Admired  and  Lamented  Hero 
and  Patriot  '  proceeds  from  your  heart,  and  the  full  convic- 
tions of  yomr  mind ;    it  must  therefore  stand.     Yet  I  never 


I 


80  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

did,  I  never  can,  consider  him  under  the  exalted  character 
of  a  II?:ro.  Ilis  fortitude  no  danger  or  adverse  fortune 
could   shake  ;    but,   according  to  my  understanding  of   the 

•"word,  eminent  military  talents  must  unite  with  bravery  jto  ;. 
form  the  hero.  To  the  pure  and  inflexible  Patriot  let  ntri- 
versal  praise  be  given.  To  his  disinterested  patriotism  and 
unequalled  circumspection  our  country  will  for  ever  be  in- 
debted. But,  in  my  view,  it  has  ever  appeared  too  much  to 
call  him  the  'founder of  our  empire,'  and  to  ascrile  to  him  its 
prosperity,  its  happiness,  its  freedom  and  independence.  To 
the  excellency  of  his  virtues  I  am  not  disposed  to  set  any 
limits.  All  his  views  were  upright,  all  his  actions  just. 
These,  guided  by  a  sound  understanding,  produced  great 
good.  I  have  often  considered,  as  applicable  to  General 
Washington,  in  his  public  character,  the  words  of  our  Saviour 
to  the  Jews,  '  If  any  man  will  do  his  will^  he  shall  know,  of 
the  doctrine,  whether  it  be  of  God.'  That  the  affairs  of  tlie 
United  States  are  now  in  so  untoward,  so  disastrous  a  situa- 
tion, is  owing,  not  to  the  want  of  abilities  in  our  rulerfe^;but 

/  simply  to  the  want  of  honesty.  Had  Washington  been  at  th^ 
helm  wdien  Bonaparte  resorted  to  the  atrocious  system  of  thfe 
Directory  in  respect  to  our  commerce  (for,  if  their  measures 
be  compared,  they  will  be  found  substantially  the  same),  'we 
should  have  armed  an  adequate  naval  force  for  its  protection. 
Then,  like  the  Directory,  the  imperial  corsair  would  havfc  re- 
lented, and  abandoned  his  piracies  ;  or  an  open  war  would'have 
produced  the  needful  guards  and  precautions  against  ^  them  ; 
and  the  millions  which  rushed  into  the  tiger's  mouth,  "ffl"  went 
within  the  reach  of  his  paws,  would  have  been  save/i  ;  and 
those  millions  would  have  been  equal  to  the  building  and 
equipping  of  a  powerful  navy. 

"  In  former  times,  I  have  dropped,  incidentally,  intimations 
which  manifested  to  you  that  my  estimate  of  Gr^etal  Wash- 
ington's military  talents  fell  vastly  below  yours  ;  but  I  never 
told  yon  facts  on  which  my  estimate  was  founded,  'because  I 
perceived  that  I  should  speak  to  unwilling  ears.  I  should  not 
now  have  even  glanced  at  it  but  for  the  conspicuous  *  notices' 
of  the  '  General '  in  your  Sketches  and  Preface.  '  Those  facts 
have  remained  engraven  on  my  memory,  and,  sViould  I  find 


rj'V ;. ' ..     . 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKEEING.  81 

time,  during  the  session,  perhaps  I  may  place  the  whole  on 
paper.  I  know  how  highly,  and  justly,  you  valued  Baron 
Steuben  for  his  distinguished  talents,  solid  as  well  as  polished 
and  amiable.  In  the  last  year  of  the  war,  in  conversing  with 
him  on  the  present  subject,  I  found  a  perfect  coincidence  of 
opinion." 

Having  said  thus  much  to  Judge  Peters,  Colonel 
Pickering  concluded  that  it  was  best  to  place  the  "  facts 
on  paper  "  in  a  subsequent  letter  to  him,  from  which 
the  following  are  extracts  :  — 

"  I  joined  the  main  army  in  the  middle  of  June,  1777.  In 
less  than  three  months  happened  the  battle  of  Brandy  wine. 
The  British  army  marched  to  Chad's  Ford,  and  began  a  can- 
nonade with  field-pieces.  This  was  on  the  11th  of  September. 
The  American  army  was  drawn  up  on  the  opposite  side  in 
order  of  battle,  and  from  a  few  small  field-pieces  returned  an 
ineffectual  fire.  By  nine  in  the  morning,  on  a  hill  near  the 
ford,  sitting  on  my  horse  beside  the  General,  I  said  to  him, 
'  If  the  enemy  meant  to  cross  at  this  place,  they  would  not 
waste  their  time  in  this  sort  of  firing  :  it  is  intended  merely  to 
amuse  us  ;  their  main  body  must  have  marched  to  cross  else- 
where.' I  think  it  was  about  eleven  or  twelve  o'clock  when 
General  Greene  was  prepared  with  a  division  to  cross  over  and 
attack  the  enemy  at  the  ford.  But  (after  recei^dng  a  variety  of 
imperfect  and,  I  think,  contradictory  intelligence)  it  was  now 
ascertained  that  the  main  body  of  the  British  army  had 
marched  up  the  Brandywine,  to  cross  a  number  of  miles  above 
us.  So  Greene  did  not  cross,  but  troops  were  marched  to  the 
right  of  the  river,  where,  in  the  afternoon,  the  action  began. 
The  General,  when  starting  from  head-quarters,  sent  me  to 
deliver  a  verbal  order  to  General  Nash,  commanding  the  North 
Carolina  Brigade,  which  remained  at  the  ford.  After  deliver- 
ing it,  I  fell  in  with  Fitzgerald  (one  of  General  Washington's 
aids),  and  we  rode  to  the  right  together.  The  firing  was 
heavy  ;  and  before  our  arrival  Sullivan's  division  had  been 
defeated  and  broken.  The  British,  at  a  distance,  were  ad- 
vancing in  line.     Knox,  having  with  him  a  number  of  pieces 

Vol.  II.  6 


82  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

of  artillery,  said  to  the  General,  '  Will  your  Excellency  have 
the  artillery  drawn  up  on  this  rising  ground  ?  '  —  a  small 
swell  near  by.  The  question  was  an  idle  one,  for  there  was 
not  any,  or  not  a  sufficient,  body  of  troops  at  hand  to  support 
them ;  and  I  think  no  answer  was  given.  We  retreated  a 
little  way,  the  British  continuing  to  advance,  and,  with  their 
field-pieces,  killing  a  small  number  of  our  men.  It  was  now 
near  sunset.  While  we  halted  behind  a  rail  fence,  with  such  of 
our  troops  as  were  in  my  view,  an  attack  was  made  by  another 
corps  of  the  enemy  on  our  left,  which,  it  seemed  to  me,  had 
advanced  unseen.  Walter  Stewart's  regiment  was  there, 
and  briskly  engaged.  A  little  before  this  time.  Colonel  Mead 
(another  of  the  General's  aids)  rode  up,  and  asked  the  Gen- 
eral if  he  should  order  up  Weedon  or  Muhlenburg's  brigade  (I 
forget  Avhich),  that,  he  said,  was  not  engaged.  The  ansAver, 
I  believe,  was  '  Yes.'  But  soon  our  retreat  became  general. 
I  retired  by  the  General's  side.  We  had  not  gone  a  mile 
when  he  said  to  me,  '  Why,  it  is  a  perfect  rout.'  Daylight 
was  departing,  and,  according  to  orders,  the  troops  retreated 
to  Chester.  The  General  and  suite  arrived  there  about  eleven 
at  night :  taking  quarters  in  Withy's  tavern.  Three  or  four 
years  ago,  I  had  the  curiosity  to  go  upstairs  to  see  the  cham- 
ber (of  which  I  had  a  perfect  recollection)  in  which  we  were 
sitting  when  I  was  called  upon  by  Colonel  Harrison,  the 
General's  Secretary,  to  write  a  letter  to  Congress,  to  be  sent 
by  express,  to  inform  them  of  the  issue  of  the  battle.  I  urged 
Harrison  to  write  it ;  but  he  appeared  extremely  distressed, 
and  put  it  upon  me.  I  wrote  and  gave  it  to  the  General. 
AYith  perfect  composure,  he  directed  me  to  add  a  consolatory 
hope  that  another  day  would  give  a  more  fortunate  result. 
You  will  find  this  short  letter,  embracing  that  additional  idea, 
in  one  of  the  volumes  of  the  General's  printed  letters. 

"  You  will  remember  that,  after  the  troops  were  reassembled, 
east  of  the  Schuylkill,  refreshed,  and  supplied  with  ammuni- 
tion, we  recrossed  that  river,  and  advanced  to  meet  Sir  Wil- 
liam Howe.  On  the  16th  of  September,  in  the  morning, 
our  pickets  were  attacked.  Some  troops  were  detached  to 
support  them,  and  to  retard  the  advance  of  the  enemy. 
General  Washington  ordered  me  to  the  right  of  the  army,  to 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  83 

assist  in  forming  the  order  of  battle.  On  my  return  to  the 
centre,  I  found  the  General  surrounded  by  officers,  and 
every  thing  in  suspense.  The  skirmishing  of  our  advanced 
troops  continued ;  the  firing  was  brisk,  and,  by  the  sound, 
was  approaching.  Extremely  uneasy,  I  pressed  my  horse  up 
to  hear  what  was  the  subject  of  the  consultation :  wdiich  I 
found  to  be,  whether  we  should  fight  the  enemy  on  the  pres- 
ent ground,  or  retire  to  the  next  range  of  hills  ;  because,  in 
case  of  a  defeat,  it  was  said  we  could  not  carry  off  our  artillery, 
across  the  deep  and  moist  valley  in  our  rear. 

"  Having  been  with  the  army  but  just  three  months,  and, 
in  that  time,  not  having  found  it  possible  to  accost  the  General 
with  ease  (although  I  could  converse  without  difficulty  and 
freely  with  every  other  general  officer),  and  being  naturally 
diffident,  you  ^t.11  imagine  how  urgent  was  the  occasion,  when 
I  could  address  him  in  this  language,  '  Sir,  the  advancing  of 
the  British  is  manifest  by  the  reports  of  the  musketry.  The 
order  of  battle  is  not  completed.  If  we  are  to  fight  the  enemy 
on  this  ground,  the  troops  T)ught  to  be  immediately  arranged. 
If  we  are  to  take  the  high  grounds  on  the  other  side  of  the 
valley,  we  ought  to  march  immediately,  or  the  enemy  may 
fall  upon  us  in  the  midst  of  our  movement.  Pray^  Sir^  decide.'' 
'  Let  us  move,'  was  the  General's  instant  answer.  You  mav 
see  this  passage  in  the  27th  page  of  my  letter  of  April  22d, 
1808,  to  Governor  Sullivan  (excepting  the  three  emphatical 
words,  which  concluded  my  short  but  earnest  address),  of 
which  I  sent  you  a  copy  ;  for,  after  I  had  written  the  words 
'  pray.  Sir,  decide,'  I  struck  them  out,  as  they  so  strongly 
marked  the  General's  want  of  decision ;  hence  the  j)riuted 
letter  appears  without  them. 

"  It  had  now  begun  to  rain.  We  marched  to  the  other  side 
of  the  valley,  and  remained  under  arms  all  day,  soaked  with 
rain.  The  British  army  halted.  We  retired  to  the  Yellow 
Springs  ;  and  our  ammunition  being  all  wet  in  the  cartridge 
boxes,  we  were  for  some  time  obliged  to  keep  aloof  from  thu 
enemy,  which  occasioned  some  night  marches.  One  night,  as 
the  army  marched  upwards,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Schuyl- 
kill, in  its  rear  I  fell  in  with  General  Greene.  We  descended 
the  bank  of  Perkiomy  Creek  together  ;  and,  while  our  horses 


84  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

were  drinking,  T  said  to  him,  '  I  had  once  conceived  an  exalted 
opinion  of  General  Washington's  military  talents;  but,  since 
I  have  been  with  the  army,  I  have  seen  nothing  to  increase 
that  opinion.'  Greene  answered,  '  Why,  the  General  does 
want  decision  :  for  my  part,  I  decide  in  a  moment.'  I  used  the 
the  word  '  increase,'  though  I  meant  '  support,'  but  did  not 
dare  to  speak  it.  The  fact  was,  my  opinion  was  exceedingly 
lowered.  For,  on  the  11th  of  September,  in  the  time  of 
action,  the  General  appeared,  for  the  most  part,  rather  like  a 
passive  spectator  than  the  Commanding  General ;  and  on  the 
16th  was  manifested  the  dangerous  indecision  above  stated. 

"  The  next  occasion  for  a  display  of  the  talents  of  a  Gen- 
eral was  at  the  battle  of  Germantown.  The  main  body  of 
our  army  marched  down  the  Great  Road.  Sullivan's  division 
had  been  engaged ;  and,  as  from  that  quarter  we  heard  a  tre- 
mendous fire  of  musketry,  I  was  apprehensive  of  a  lavish  ex- 
j)enditure  of  ammunition.  Just  then  the  same  thought  struck 
General  Washington ;  for  he  directed  me  to  ride  to  Sullivan, 
and  desire  him  to  save  his  ammusiition.  I  did  so,  falling  in 
with  him  in  the  road  a  little  below  Chew's  house.  On  mv 
return  to  the  General,  I  found  him  listening  to  a  discussion 
of  General  Knox  and  some  other  officers,  on  the  question  of 
summoning  the  party  of  the  enemy  in  Chew's  house  to  sur- 
render. For  what  passed  at  this  time,  I  will  refer  you  to  the 
twenty-eighth  page  of  the  same  letter  to  Governor  Sullivan. 
I  opposed  the  summons,  but  Knox's  opinion  prevailed,  and  a 
flag  was  sent ;  the  officer  was  fired  at  (as  I  had  predicted), 
and  mortally  wounded.  The  impression  on  my  mind  is,  that 
General  Washington  did  not  positively  decide  that  the  flag 
should  be  sent ;  but  it  was  suffered  to  go. 

''  In  November,  having  received  the  re-enforcements  of  some 
brigades  of  Gates's  victorious  troops,  the  army  took  post  on 
the  hills  at  White  Marsh.  In  the  beginning  of  December, 
General  Howe  made  his  '  forward  movement '  (as  he  called 
it)  with  his  army  to  Chesnut  Hill ;  and,  on  the  third  day 
afterwards  (I  think  it  was),  some  of  his  troops  attacked  our 
advanced  guards,  which  were  supported  by  Morgan's  rifle 
regiment.  Our  army  was  drawn  up  in  order  of  battle,  in 
three  lines,  on  a  very  commanding  hill,  the  brow  of  which 


LIFE   OF    TIMOTHY   PICKEEING.  85 

was,  at  first,  strengthened  by  a  formidable  abatis.  But  we 
had  continued  so  long  on  the  ground,  and  the  weather  had 
grown  so  cold,  the  soldiers  had  burnt  up  all  the  large  wood, 
so  that  brush  only  remained.  This  was  gathered  into  a  row, 
which,  however,  would  have  given  very  little  embarrassment 
to  an  enemy.  The  army  being  thus  formed,  and  a  general 
battle  expected  on  that  ground.  General  Washington  rode 
along,  in  the  rear  of  the  front  line,  which  was  posted  on 
the  brow  of  the  hill.  It  happened  that  I  alone  was  with 
him.  The  firing  with  the  advanced  guards  and  Morgan's 
corps,  in  our  front,  had  begun.  Some  woods  concealed  them 
from  our  view.  As  we  rode  along,  the  General  ordered  me 
to  speak  (which  I  did)  to  each  officer  commanding  a  regi- 
ment, to  caution  his  men  not  to  fire  too  high,  when  the 
enemy  should  be  advancing  up  the  hill.  As  we  proceeded, 
the  firing  continuing,  the  General  addressed  me  in  these 
words  precisely,  '  I  wonder  now  whether  it  will  be  best  to 
re-enforce  Morgan  or  not  ?  '  Instantly  I  answered,  '  If  a  small 
re-enforcement  be  sent,  they  must  soon  give  way ;  if  a  large 
force  be  detached,  a  great  breach  will  be  made  in  the  line  of 
defence  ;  and. this  body  also  will  not  be  able  long  to  main- 
tain their  ground  ;  and  if  they  should  retreat  in  disorder,  the 
whole  line  may  be  thrown  into  confusion.'  '  That  is  true,' 
was  the  General's  reply.  After  skirmishing  with  Morgan's 
corps  and  the  advanced  guards,  the  enemy  retired ;  and  Sir 
William  Howe  marched  back  to  Philadelphia.  Soon  after- 
wards, the  American  army  marched,  and  hutted  at  Valley 
Forge." 

The  foregoing  incidents,  narrated  in  the  letters  to 
Judge  Peters,  written  in  January,  1811,  in  explanation 
of  the  opinion  that  Washington  had  not  always  the 
promptness  in  discerning  what  the  exigency  required, 
or  the  decision  in  action,  necessary  to  the  character  of 
a  great  military  commander,  all  occurred  while  Colonel 
Pickering  was  Adjutant-General.  He  left  active  ser- 
vice in  the  field  when  appointed  to  the  Board  of  War, 


86  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY    PICKERING. 

and  did  not  return  to  it  again  until  as  Quarter-Master- 
General,  he  accompanied  and  co-operatod  with  the 
Commander-in-Chief  in  the  summer  of  1781,  transfer- 
ring the  army  from  the  Hudson  to  James  River.  In 
one  of  his  letters  to  Peters  is  the  following :  — 

''  The  army  being  arrived  before  Yorktown,  the  General  sent 
for  me  to  accompany  him  in  reconnoitring  the  enemy's 
positions,  and  the  ground  suitable  for  our  encampment.  At 
that  moment  I  was  engaged  in  some  necessary  business  of 
my  department,  which  having  soon  despatched,  I  mounted 
my  horse  and  rode  to  meet  the  General.  The  reconnoitring 
respected  only  the  American  troops  ;  and  the  space  they 
were  to  occupy  being  small,  the  General,  attended  by  General 
Knox,  with  some  other  officers  (perhaps  only  their  aids),  had 
nearly  gone  over  the  ground  when  I  joined  them.  The  gen- 
eral positions  of  the  enemy  were  apparent  from  the  ground 
to  which  our  troops  had  marched.  As  soon  as  I  came  up 
they  stopped,  and  General  Knox  thus  accosted  me  :  '  The 
General  thinks  we  ought  to  move,  and  encamp  nearer  to  the 
enemy's  works.  What  is  your  opinion  ?  '  I  answered 
instantly,  expressing  precisely  all  the  following  ideas,  and,  as 
nearly  as  it  is  possible  to  recollect,  in  these  words  :  '  The  duties 
of  troops  at  a  siege  are  severe.  Those  off  duty  ought  to  be 
so  situated  as  to  take  their  rest  in  security.  We  must  look  for 
repeated  sallies  from  the  enemy,  and  if  any  of  these  are  made 
in  great  force  they  will  beat  the  guards  of  the  trenches,  and 
compel  them  to  retreat.  If  the  camp  be  near,  the  soldiers 
will  not  have  time  to  rouse  from  sleep  and  to  recollect  them- 
selves, before  the  enemy  will  be  upon  them.  Shot,  from  the 
enemy's  outworks,  reach  us  where  we  now  are.  For  these 
reasons  I  think  we  are  near  enough.'  '  Well,  but  we  must 
invest  the  place,'  said  General  Washington.  I  presume  my 
countenance  must  have  expressed,  in  some  degree,  what  I 
felt ;  although  I  endeavored  to  suppress  the  signs  of  aston- 
ishment at  the  simplicity  of  this  remark :  while  in  a  moment 
I  rejoined  :  '  The  object  of  an  investment  is  to  prevent  the 
besieged  from  receiving  succors  or  making  their  escape.    The 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  87 

m 

American  army  now  extends  so  as  to  command  the  ground 
from  York  River,  below  the  town,  round  to  the  morass  on 
our  left.  Above  the  town  the  French  army  commands  the 
ground  from  the  morass  to  the  river.  Duke  Lauzun's  legion 
and  General  Weedon's  brigade  of  Virginia  militia  are  at 
Gloucester  Point,  opposite  to  Yorktown ;  and  Count  de 
Grasse,  with  his  fleet,  commands  the  mouth  of  the  river.  No 
passage  is  open  except  through  the  river  ;  and  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  will  not  attempt  an  escape  by  marching  into  the  heart 
of  the  country.  So  I  think,  Sir,  that  the  place  is  completely 
invested  already.'  The  General  made  no  reply  ;  and  the 
troops  encamped  on  the  ground  which  they  then  occupied. 
This  was  the  seventh  year  of  the  war ;  and  yet  it  is  certain 
that  the  General  had  not  then  formed  any  distinct  idea  of 
the  investment  of   a  fortified  place. 

"  The  capture  of  Yorktown,  together  with  the  army  which 
defended  it,  closed  the  General's  military  operations,  and,  in 
effect,  terminated  the  war. 

'^  I  am  ready  to  admit,  with  Mr.  Reed,  that  General  Wash- 
ington sometimes  adopted  draughts  of  writings  when  his  own 
would  have  been  better ,  and  I  have  repeatedly  said  that, 
from  an  extreme  diffidence  in  himself,  he  was  likewise  led, 
in  some  easels,  to  adopt  the  opinions  of  others,  in  whom  he 
placed  a  confidence,  when  his  own  would  have  been  more 
correct.  If  this  remark  should  apply  to  any  of  mine,  now 
recited,  I  shall  not  be  mortified.  I  have  stated  them  pre- 
cisely as  they  were  uttered,  at  the  instant  the  occasions  called 
for  them. 

"  Retired  in  his  tent,  a  commanding  officer,  contemplating 
the  nature  of  the  duties  entrusted  to  him,  may  form  the  plan 
of  a  military  enterprise  ;  but,  to  execute  it  with  a  prospect 
of  success,  he  must  be  able  to  see,  as  with  a  glance  of  the 
eye,  in  every  change  of  circumstances,  from  the  beginning 
to  the  end  of  an  action,  the  movements,  and  attacks,  and 
defences  best  adapted  to  them.  He  who  does  not  possess 
this  instant  discernment  —  Avhich  must,  of  necessity,  be 
followed  by  an  instantaneous  decision  —  wants  the  essential 
characteristic  of  a  General.  My  opinion  of  General  Wash- 
ington, in  his  military  character,  was  formed  on  what  I  saw. 


88  LIFE   or   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

The  facts  I  could  not  mistake,  and  the  inference  was  unavoid- 

able. 

"  Upon  the  whole,  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  Gen- 
eral Washington's  talents  were  much  better  adapted  to  the 
Presidency  of  the  United  States  than  to  the  command  of 
their  armies.  To  the  President  very  difficult  questions  could 
not  often  occur,  and  then  there  was  time  to  deliberate,  and 
opportunity  to  obtain  the  best  advice.  For  it  was  not  neces- 
sary to  confine  himself  to  his  cabinet. 

"  I  do  not  know  that  you  will  thank  me  for  this  letter.  You 
long  since  formed  your  opinion,  and  on  your  own  observation 
(but  not  in  the  field)  :  of  course  you  will  retain  it.  In  the 
first  newspaper  controversy  in  which  I  was  engaged  (near 
forty  years  ago),  my  signature  Avas  *  A  Lover  of  Truth,'  and 
I  have  always  desired  to  make  my  title  to  it  just.  '  De 
mortuis  nil  nisi  bonum  '  is  a  maxim  to  which  I  never  sub- 
scribed ;  examples  to  deter,  as  well  as  to  allure,  being  useful 
to  mankind.  In  the  present  case,  it  is  true,  nothing  BUT 
GOOD  can  be  said  of  the  deceased.  The  error  lies  in  ascrib- 
ing to  him  every  thing  that  was  great.  '  Suum  cuique 
tribuito  '  is  the  sacred  demand  of  justice  and  of  truth. 

*'  Would  to  God  that  Washington  were  still  alive  ;  or  that 
HIS  MANTLE  had  fallen  on  some  Elisha,  whom  Providence 
(controlling  the  perverseness  of  the  people)  had  seated  in 
the  chair  of  government  :  then  we  should  not  have  fallen 
from  our  high  estate ;  then  we  should  have  escaped  the 
reproach,  so  provoking  and  yet  so  just,  that  we  are  a  nation 
'  without  just  political  views,  without  energy,  without  honor.' 
In  this  vow  to  Heaven  I  am  sure  we  shall  agree." 

The  foregoing  passages  from  Colonel  Pickering's 
correspondence,  besides  being  required  to  present  a  full 
and  truthful  view  of  the  point  now  under  consideration, 
give  inner  glimpses  of  the  interesting  scenes  of  the  war 
to  which  they  relate,  and  of  the  persons  mentioned. 
They  comprehend  all  the  exceptions  Colonel  Pickering 
ever  took  to  the  character  of  General  Washington,  and 
relate  exclusively  to  him  as  a  military  commander. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  89 

In  determining  their  weight,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind 
that  the  experience  of  Washington,  or  of  any  of  his 
officers,  in  conflicts  with  French  and  Indians,  long  years 
before,  could  have  been  of  little  benefit  to  them  in  the 
campaigns  of  the  Revolution,  where  the  field  of  opera- 
tions embraced  a  continent,  and  the  forces  and  their 
movements  were  on  so  large  a  scale.  Washington  had 
led  small  detachments  of  Provincial  backwoodsmen  in 
frontier  expeditions,  and  others  had  seen  service,  in  the 
ranks  or  under  subordinate  commissions  in  the  line,  at 
Lake  George,  Louisburg,  or  Quebec,  but  never  in  posi- 
tions that  would  have  at  all  prepared  them  for  compre- 
hensive strategic  operations,  or  imparted  to  them  the 
military  science  necessary  to  the  conduct  of  campaigns, 
or  the  handling  of  separated,  wide-spread,  masses  of 
men,  in  the  multiplex  evolutions  and  manoeuvres  of 
extended  battle-fields.  Probably  very  few  among  them, 
besides  Pickering,  had  made  the  military  art  a  special 
and  elaborate  study,  in  books  relating  to  the  subject, 
describing  the  movements  of  large  armies  in  marches, 
battles,  and  sieges,  and  illustrating  the  elements  of 
tactics,  in  distmguished  instances  of  modern  European 
warfare.  The  wonder  is  that  such  an  army  of  raw 
materials,  whose  officers  had  so  little  experience,  prac- 
tice, or  previously  acquired  skill,  should  have  so  suc- 
cessfully encountered  trained  and  veteran  troops,  led  by 
men  who  had  followed  war  as  their  profession  in  life  ; 
and  that  its  Commander-in-Chief,  a  Virginia  planter, 
made  so  few  mistakes. 

What  Colonel  Pickering  usually  calls  a  want  of 
"  decision,"  is  perhaps  described  in  one  instance,  with 
more  strict  correctness,  as   "an  extreme    diffidence   of 


90  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERIXG. 

himself."  This  trait  was  manifested  in  marked  expres- 
sions of  imafFected  doubt  of  his  ability  to  execute  the 
great  trust,  when  he  accepted  the  command  of  the  army ; 
and  throughout  his  whole  administration,  military  and 
civil,  it  led  him  to  seek  counsel  of  all  competent  to  give 
it,  in  every  important  emergency.  Even  when  his  own 
judgment  was  quite  clear,  he  desired  to  be  re-assured 
by  the  judgment  of  others.  In  the  novel,  difficult,  and 
momentous  combinations  of  circumstances,  often  sur- 
rounding him,  on  the  field  and  in  the  cabinet,  he  wel- 
comed light  and  information  from  other  minds.  While 
occasional  slowness  of  action  may  have  led  to  mischiev- 
ous results,  as  in  some  of  the  instances  mentioned  by 
Colonel  Pickering,  who  can  tell  Avhat  advantages  often 
resulted  from  his  caution  ?  as  many  fatal  disasters  have 
followed  sudden  decisions  by  the  commanders  of  armies, 
as  from  careful  deliberation  before  acting.  If  Wash- 
ington's caution  did,  once  or  twice,  lose  the  day,  in 
the  long  run,  and  in  the  end,  it  saved  the  cause.  Such 
is  already  the  verdict  of  history,  and  it  will  not  be 
reversed. 

It  is  quite  evident  that  Washington's  extreme  caution 
in  conducting  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  which 
brought  much  censure  upon  him  from  some  of  his  sub- 
ordinates, and  among  members  of  Congress,  was  a  con- 
stant restraint  upon  his  own  nature,  which  was  truly 
heroic  and  daring.  Occasionally,  when  his  judgment 
was  convinced  that  the  public  exigency  and  the  existing 
opportunity  justified  it,  he  made  perilous  movements, 
even  against  the  advice  and  remonstrances  of  his  prin- 
cipal officers.  Colonel  Pickering  mentions  his  course 
at  the  battle  of  Monmouth  as  an  instance.     "  His  great 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  91 

caution,"  says  Pickering,  "  in  respect  to  the  enemy, 
acquired  him  the  name  of  the  American  Fabius.  From 
this  governing  policy  he  is  said  to  have  departed,  when 
—  following  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  on  his  retreat  with 
the  British  army  from  Philadelphia  to  Xew  York  — 
he  "  indulged  the  most  anxious  desire  to  close  with  his 
antagonist  in  general  action.  Opposed  to  his  wishes 
was  the  advice  of  his  general  officers.  To  this  he  for 
a  time  yielded ;  but,  as  soon  as  he  discovered  that  the 
enemy  had  reached  Monmouth  Court  House,  not  more 
than  twelve  miles  from  the  heights  of  Middletown, 
he  determined  that  he  should  not  escape  without  a 
blow."* 

Colonel  Pickering  considered  this  a  "  departure"  from 
Washington's  '*  usual  practice  and  policy,"  and  cites 
the  opinion  of  Colonel  Jeremiah  Wadsw^orth,  who,  as 
a  commissary  and  contractor,  was  acquainted  with  all  the 
occurrences  of  the  war,  and  an  intelligent  person.  In 
conversation  with  Colonel  Pickering,  after  the  war,  on 
the  subject  of  Washington's  military  character,  in  which 
they  were  found  to  entertain  similar  opinions,  Wads- 
worth  said,  in  reference  to  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  that 
the  General  appeared,  on  that  occasion,  "  to  act  from 
the  impulses  of  his  own  mind." 

Colonel  Pickering  seeuis  to  have  had  perhaps  an 
exaggerated  estimate  of  what  are  called  "  talents,"  in 
speaking  of  Washington's  military  character.  Such 
intellectual  faculties  and  habits  as  lead  to  rapid  and 
brilliant  manifestations,  are  often  thought  the  necessary 
elements  of  greatness  ;  but  history  and  experience  prove 

*  The  language  here  quoted  by  Pickering,  is  from  Lee's  "  Memoirs  of  the 
"War,  in  the  Southern  Department."     Vol.  i.,  p.  58. 


92  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

that  calm,  cautious,  conscientious  circumspection,  a 
moral  power  to  lay  restraint  upon  the  sudden  impulses 
of  passion  and  enthusiasm,  —  the  very  qualities  he 
always  ascribed  pre-eminently  to  Washington,  —  are  the 
sources  of  real  wisdom,  and,  more  than  genius  or  learn- 
ing, constitute  true  greatness  in  war  or  in  peace. 

Whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  plainness,  and  even 
severity,  in  some  passages  of  Colonel  Pickering's  strict- 
ures, there  runs  through  them,  as  in  all  he  ever  said  or 
wrote  about  Washington,  a  full  appreciation  of  his  emi- 
nent virtues.  His  language  sometimes,  in  spite  of  his 
abhorrence  of  man- worship,  amounts  almost  to  vener- 
ation. In  a  letter  to  Judge  Peters,  of  January  5,  1811, 
he  says : — 

"  There  is  one  distinguishing  trait  in  General  Washington's 
character,  which  you  have  omitted,  th&  uiiequalled  dignity  of 
his  PRESENCE,  which  inspired  every  one  who  approached 
him,  with  a  degree  of  reverential  respect  that  was  not  felt 
in  the  presence  of  any  other  man.  This  idea  was  never  pub- 
Hcly  presented,  to  my  recollection,  until  after  the  General's 
death,  and  then  by  one  from  whom  I  should  least  have 
expected  it,  Gouverneur  Morris,  in  his  funeral  oration. 
Some  English  poet  —  I  believe  Milton  —  has  an  expression 
of  this  sort,  '  and  felt  how  awful  goodness  is.'  " 

In  "  memoranda  "  of  incidents  and  characters  in  the 
course  of  his  experience,  found  among  his  papers, 
Colonel  Pickering  repeats  this  sentiment :  — 

"Those  who  came  into  Washington's  presence  approached 
him  with  reverence.  All  such  looked  at  him  with  profound 
respect.  The  dignity  of  his  person,  large  and  manly,  in- 
creased by  a  steady,  firm,  and  grave  countenance,  and  an 
unusual  share  of  reserve,  forbidding  absolutely  all  familiarity, 


LIFE   or   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  93 

excited  no  little  reverence  in  his  presence,  even  in  the  few 
whose  opportunities  and  frequent  official  intercourse  enabled 
them  to  form  a  correct  judgment." 

It  is  one  of  the  innumerable  proofs  of  Washington's 
real  greatness  of  mind,  that  he  bore  no  ill-will  to  those 
of  his  officers  who  occasionally  chafed  under  what  they 
considered  his  slowness  in  coming  to  a  decision.  Where 
he  was  sure  of  their  fidelity  to  the  cause,  and  to  him  as 
its  representative,  he  was  not  offended  by  their  impa- 
tience of  delay,  but  rather  pleased  with  a  display  of 
their  eagerness  to  advance  even  w^hen  his  prudence  and 
judgment  led  him  to  restrain  it.  At  the  battle  of  Brandy- 
wine,  it  has  been  seen  that  Colonel  Pickering  remon- 
strated against  Greene's  division  being  ordered  to  cross  at 
Chad's  Ford  to  meet  the  enemy,  declaring  his  conviction 
that  the  British  cannonade,  at  that  point,  was  merely  a 
feint  to  cover  a  passage  of  the  river  at  some  other  ford. 
The  event  proved  that  he  was  right.  The  time  lost  in 
preparing  Greene's  troops  for  the  contemplated  move- 
ment gave  the  enemy  an  opportunity  to  cross  in  force,  a 
few  miles  above,  without  resistance,  driving  Sullivan's 
division.  In  the  confusion  thus  occasioned,  another 
portion  crossed  at  Chad's  Ford ;  thus  compelling  a 
general  retreat  of  the  American  army.  At  the  close  of 
that  hard  and  disastrous  day,  when  the  General,  with 
his  retiring  forces,  had  reached  Chester,  about  iliidnight, 
he  gave  the  most  decisive  proof  of  his  confidence  in  and 
good  feeling  towards  Pickering,  in  asking  him  to  prepare 
the  official  despatch,  to  be  sent  to  Congress  on  the 
occasion.  Five  davs  afterwards  occurred  the  scene  in 
which  Pickering  expressed  himself  in  such  unreserved 
terms,  calling  upon  the  General  to  "  decide,"  on  the  eve  of 


94  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

another  expected  general  battle.  Then,  at  Germantown, 
he  opposed  the  measure  that  Washington  had  been  led 
to  adopt  at  the  Chew  house.  What  he  said  at  York- 
town  as  to  the  "  investment "  of  the  enemy  would  have 
wounded  the  pride  of  an  ordinary  Commander-in-Chief. 
But  the  mind  of  Washington  was  above  resentment 
towards  those  who  meant  well,  and  frankly  uttered 
what  were  soon  found  to  be  just  and  wise  counsels. 
The  friendship  between  him  and  Pickering  was  never 
impaired  in  the  least,  or  for  a  moment,  by  the  free 
utterances  and  unconcealed  criticisms  of  the  latter. 

As  Colonel  Pickering  held  this  opinion,  as  to  one  par- 
ticular point  in  Washington's  character  as  a  military 
commander,  he  never  denied  it  when  brought  as  an  ac- 
cusation against  him.  It  was  his  honest  sentiment,  and 
he  was  always  ready  to  stand  by  it.  Whenever  the 
subject  was  introduced  under  circumstances  that  seemed 
to  require  his  notice,  he  reaffirmed  it ;  but  never  with- 
out availing  himself,  at  the  time,  of  the  opportunity  to 
express,  in  connection  with  it,  his  profound  sense  of 
Washington's  eminent  superiority  in  all  other  respects, 
as  a  soldier,  a  patriot,  and  a  man.  The  reader  of  what 
has  now  been  presented  will  probably  discern  beneath 
Colonel  Pickering's  statements  and  strictures,  pervading 
and  connecting  them,  as  warm  and  strong  an  eulogium 
upon  his  illustrious  chief  as  can  anywhere  be  found. 

While,  however,  he  took  the  exception,  which  has 
been  fully  stated,  to  Washington's  qualities  as  a  General, 
and  was  too  honest  to  disavow  it,  he  chose  to  exercise 
his  own  judgment  as  to  the  times  and  places  of  express- 
ing it.  If  an  attempt  was  made,  as  he  thought  unsea- 
sonably and    unnecessarily,  to    draw   him    out    on    the 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  95 

subject,  it  failed.  On  a  certain  occasion,  for  instance, 
at  a  private  circle,  but  in  a  mixed  company,  where  the 
conversation  had  been  running  in  the  direction  of  Kevo- 
lutionary  reminiscences,  and  he  had  been  asked  his 
opinion  of  several  prominent  characters,  and  had  de- 
scribed some  occurrences  and  scenes  of  especial  interest, 
a  lady  put  this  affirmative  question  to  him  :  "  Colonel 
Pickering,  please  give  us  your  views  of  Washington. 
Was  he  not,  in  all  respects,  the  greatest  of  Generals '? ' 
The  Colonel  did  not  feel  inclined,  under  the  circum- 
stances, to  go  into  particulars.  "  Madam,"  said  he, 
"  General  W^ashington  was  a  man  of  superlative  fame." 
In  this  answer,  at  once  terse  and  comprehensive  to  the 
utmost  extent  of  which  language  is  capable,  while  he 
avoided  the  point  and  aim,  if  not  the  purpose,  of  the 
question,  he  brought  to  view  in  a  phrase  truly  emphatic 
a  thought  which  the  most  glowing  panegyrist  could 
hardly  surpass,  —  Washington's  unapproached  renown 
among  men,  the  world  over,  and  through  all  time. 

In  giving  this  explanation  of  the  modified  terms  in 
which  Colonel  Pickering  sometimes  spoke  of  Washing- 
ton, there  is  one  observation  that  cannot  fail  to  be  sug- 
gested in  connection  with  it.  As  his  abhorrence  on  the 
ground  of  truthfulness,  as  well  as  taste,  of  all  exaggera- 
tion is  demonstrated  bv  the  facts  and  citations  that  have 
now  been  presented  ;  and  it  is  shown,  to  use  his  own 
words,  that  he  could  never  be  brought  "  to  elevate  any 
mortal  into  a  god  ;"  his  testimony  to  the  real  virtues  and 
greatness  of  his  ''Commander-in-Chief"  is  of  especial 
weight  and  the  highest  value. 

There  is  one  other  subject  upon  which,  on  a  superfi- 
cial view,  some  expressions  of  his  might  be  regarded  as 


96  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

derogatory  to  the  reputation  of  Washington.  They  re- 
hite  to  the  authorship  of  documents  proceeding  from  him, 
under  his  own  name.  But  here,  too,  it  is  found  that  the 
facts,  as  stated  by  Pickering  himself  in  letters  to  Peters, 
of  which  the  following  extracts  are  the  substance,  greatly 
heighten  interest  in  the  character  of  Washington  :  — 

"January  5th,  181.1.  —  All  you  say  in  your  last  letter  of 
General  Washington  is  correct.  He  did  not  take  credit  to 
himself  when  he  was  assisted  by  others ;  but  the  credit  was 
bestoiced  upon  him  by  his  fellow-citizens  and  the  world ;  and 
v  this  credit  he  could  not  disclaim  without  defeating  the  national 
object  he  had  in  view,  in  what  appeared  under  his  name. 
The  secret  was  kept  solely  from  th.Q  purest  patriotism  ;  for,  of 
all  the  men  I  ever  knew,  no  one  was  more  perfectly  free  from 
ostentation. 

"  When  I  first  saw  the  pamphlet  of  forged  letters  to  Lund, 
Washington,  &c.,  published  in  New  York  during  the  war 
(and  republished  by  Bache  when  the  General  was  President 
of  the  United  States),  I  knew  by  the  style  that  the  General 
did  not  write  them :  it  was  the  style  of  a  literary  man. 

"  When  I  first  became  acquainted  with  the  General  (in 
1777),  his  waiting  was  defective  in  grammar,  and  even  in 
spelling,  owing  to  the  insufficiency  of  his  early  education  ;  of 
which,  however,  he  gradually  got  the  better  in  the  subsequent 
years  of  his  life,  by  the  official  perusal  of  some  excellent 
models,  particularly  those  of  Hamilton  ;  by  writing  with  care 
and  patient  attention  ;  and  reading  numerous,  indeed  multi- 
tudes of,  letters  to  and  from  his  fiiends  and  correspondents. 
This  obvious  improvement  was  begun  during  the  war ;  but 
was  not  equal  to  the  production,  in  point  of  style,  of  the  Fare- 
well Circular  to  the  Governors  of  the  States  at  its  close.  And 
yet  I  supposed  his  Farewell  Address,  on  quitting  the  Presi- 
dency, was  his  own  composition.  Examine  the  piece,  and 
you  will  find  it  remarkable  for  its  simplicity  and  clearness  of 
expression ;  and  that  the  ideas  are  such  as  a  man  of  sound 
understanding  and  observation,  who,  during  many  years,  had 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  97 

« 

been  officially  connected  with,  and  often  heard  discussed  by 
the  ablest  men,  the  great  interests  and  policy  of  a  nation, 
would  naturally  entertain^  collect^  and  digest ;  and  such,  T 
imagined  at  the  time,  was  the  source  and  origin  of  that  ad- 
dress, when  I  first  saw  it,  in  the  General's  own  handwriting. 
For  to  you  I  may  say  that  he  communicated  to  his  Secretaries 
his  intention  to  make  the  address,  and  put  into  the  hands  of 
Wolcott,  McHenry,  and  myself  the  manuscript,  with  a  request 
that  we  would  examine  it,  and  note  any  alterations  and  cor- 
rections which  we  should  think  best.  We  did  so  ;  but  our 
notes,  as  well  as  I  recollect,  were  few,  and  regarded  chiefly 
the  grammar  and  composition. 

"  Our  friend,  Lewis,  was  the  first  to  inform  me,  two  or 
three  years  ago,  that  since  General  Hamilton's  death  the  rough- 
draught  of  the  address  had  been  found  among  his  papers,  in 
Hamilton's  own  handwriting.  Subsequently  to  this  informa- 
tion, in  looking  over  some  of  my  papers  for  another  purpose,  I 
met  with  one  (marked  '  French  Bribery  ')  which  had  entirely 
escaped  my  memory.  It  was  a  memorandum  in  my  own 
handwriting,  and  formally  signed  by  me  (by  way  of  certifi- 
cate), of  the  information  given  me  in  the  autumn  of  1797,  and 
repeated  to  me,  at  its  date,  May  14th,  1798  (by  a  very 
respectable  man),  of  the  statement  made  to  him  by  Mr. 
Letourbe,  the  French  Consul-General,  in  a  tone  of  complaint, 
'  that  Mr.  Adet  had  foolishly  thrown  awa}^  a  great  deal  of 
money  in  bribing  Members  of  Congress,'  giving  (but  without 
names)  some  particulars.  ^  Since  then,  Letourbe  told  him 
that  he  had  paid  a  sum  of  money  to  a  person  who  had  pro- 
cured for  him  the  address  of  General  Washington  to  the 
citizens  of  the  United  States  (on  the  General's  declining  to  be 
again  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency),  as  originally  drawn  up 
by  Colonel  Hamilton.' 

"  It  may  be  asked,  '  For  what  end  would  Adet  make  this 
purchase?'  Perhaps  with  a  view  to  publish  the  fact  to  the 
world,  in  order  to  diminish  or  destroy  the  General's  reputa- 
tion for  greatness  of  character,  and,  consequently,  his  political 
influence  among  his  fellow-citizens.  But  you  will  make  your 
own  reflections :  I  give  you  the  stated  facts. 

"  January  21,  1811.  —  As  to  the  public  letters  bearing  his 

Vol.  II.  7 


98        ^  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

[Washington's]  signature,  it  is  certain  that  he  could  not  have 
maintained  so  extensive  a  correspondence  with  his  own  pen, 
even  if  he  had  possessed  the  ability  and  promptness  of  Hamil- 
ton. That  he  would,  sometimes  with  propriety,  observe 
upon,  correct,  and  add  to  any  draught  submitted  for  his  ex- 
amination and  signature,  I  have  no  doubt.  And  yet  I  do 
doubt  whether  many,  if  any,  of  the  letters  in  the  two  printed 
volumes  are  his  own  draught.  I  judge  from  extraneous  cir- 
cumstances. I  have  read  very  few  of  them.  I  have  long 
since  determined  to  read  the  whole.  I  hope  yet  to  do  it ; 
and  I  think  I  am  so  well  acquainted  with  the  General's  man- 
ner of  writing,  as  to  be  able  to  decide  which,  if  any,  were  his 
own.  I  have  even  reason  to  believe  that  not  only  the  com- 
position^ the  clothing  of  the  ideas,  but  the  ideas  themselves, 
originated  generally  with  the  writers ;  that  Hamilton  and 
Harrison,  in  particular,  w^ere  scarcely  in  any  degree  his 
amanuenses.  I  remember,  when  at  head-quarters  one  day,  at 
Valley  Forge,  Colonel  Harrison  came  down  from  the  General's 
chamber,  with  his  brows  knit,  and  thus  accosted  me, '  I  wish 
to  the  Lord  the  General  would  give  me  the  heads,  or  some 
idea,  of  what  he  would  have  me  write.' 

''  When  President  of  the  United  States,  the  General  would 
condescend  to  make  a  fair  copy  of  his  speeches  to  Congress, 
to  deliver  to  one  or  both  Houses,  and  yet,  I  presume,  he  never 
draughted  one,  —  though  occasionally  he  might  write  some 
of  the  shorter  paragraphs  of  a  general  nature.  Even  Mr. 
Adams  (entirely  contrary  to  my  expectation)  did  not  write 
his  own  speeches  to  Congress,  though  he  usually  furnished 
some  paragraphs.  The  General  must  have  had  some  pride  in 
exhibiting  things  in  his  own  handwriting.  I,  this  moment, 
recollect  that  James  Milligan  told  me  that  the  General's 
accounts  of  his  expenses  during  the  war  were  presented  to 
the  Treasury  department  in  his  own  handwriting.  The 
United  States,  you  know,  were  to  defray  them.  If  you  were 
to  examine  the  General's  answers  to  the  numerous  addresses 
presented  to  him  at  different  periods,  you  would  find  them  of 
varied  composition  ;  each  conforming  to  the  character  of  the 
writer  who  happened  to  be  with  him.  Although  the  Gener- 
al's private  correspondence  was  doubtless,  for  the  most  part, 


LIFE   OF   TBIOTHY  PICKERING.  99 

his  own,  and  extremely  acceptable  to  tlie  persons  addressed  ; 
yet,  in  regard  to  whatev.er  was  destined  to  meet  the  public 
eye,  he  seems  to  have  been  fearful  to  exhibit  his  own  compo- 
sitions, relying  too  much  on  the  judgment  of  his  friends,  and 
sometimes  adopted  draughts  that  were  exceptionable.  Some 
parts  of  his  private  corresj)ondence  must  have  essentially 
differed  from  other  parts  in  the  style  of  composition.  You 
mention  your  own  aids  to  the  General  in  this  line.  •  Now,  if 
I  had  your  draughts  before  me,  mingled  with  the  General's  to 
the  same  persons,  nothing  would  be  more  easy  than  to  assign 
to  each  his  own  proper  offspring.  You  could  neither  restrain 
your  courser^  nor  conceal  your  imagery,  nor  express  your  ideas 
otherwise  than  in  the  language  of  a  scholar.  The  General's 
compositions  would  be  perfectly  plain  and  didactic,  and  not 
always  correct. 

''  One  word  more  concerning  the  Farewell  Address,  on  which 
[  have  before  written  to  you.  I  think  it  was  last  May,  when 
I  was  going  home  from  this  city,  that  Mr.  King  told  me  that 
he  was  then,  or  had  been,  in  possession  of  Hamilton's  draught 
of  it.  Hamilton's  good  sense  would  lead  him,  at  that  epoch, 
with  peculiar  attention,  to  adapt  the  style  to  the  character 
and  the  occasion ;  at  the  same  time,  it  is  to  be  presumed  that 
the  General  took  unusual  pains  with  that  last  signal  public 
act  of  his  life.  No  man  had  more  patient  industry ;  and  I 
have  no  doubt  that  he  made  a  variety  of  alterations  to  render 
it  entirely  conformable  to  his  own  views  and  feelings  ;  and 
hence  arose  the  expediency  of  the  ultimate  revision  and  cor- 
rections mentioned  in  my  former  letter." 

In  the  part  of  Virginia  where  Washington  was  born 
and  passed  his  earliest  years,  there  must  have  been  at  that 
time  almost  a  destitution  of  established  and  regular  means 
of  education.  The  planters  were  too  far  apart  to  pro- 
vide schools  for  their  children,  and  instruction  was  left 
to  such  persons,  more  or  less  fitted  for  the  work,  as 
might  be  in  the  family,  either  members  of  it  or  hired  for 
the  purpose.     In  his  youth,  Washington  was  much  do- 


100  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

mesticated  at  Belvoir,  on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac,  a 
few  miles  below  Mount  Vernon,  the  seat  of  Colonel 
William  Fairfax,  who  had  charge  of  the  wide  American 
domains  of  his  family.  He  had  received  his  education 
in  England,  under  the  care  of  an  uncle,  who  was  a 
nobleman  ;  entered  the  British  army  quite  young  ;  served 
in  Spain,  the  East  and  West  Indies  ;  was  in  the  expedi- 
tion against  the  Island  of  Providence,  of  which  place 
he  was  made  Governor ;  and  was  Chief- Justice  of  the 
Bahama  Islands.  That  clim^ate  not  suiting  him,  he  came 
to  Salem,  in  Massachusetts  Bay,  and  was  Collector  of 
that  port  prior  to  his  removal  to  Virginia.  The  conver- 
sation, and  influence  upon  the  mind  of  Washington,  of 
a  man  of  such  a  training  and  experience,  must  have 
been  of  great  value.  His  wife  having  died  in  Salem, 
Fairfax  married  Deborah  Clark,  an  intelligent  lady, 
belonging  to  a  leading  family  there.  She  presided  over 
the  household  at  Belvoir,  and  Washington  ever  regarded 
her  with  grateful  affection.  To  her  aid  he  may  have 
been  much  indebted  for  the  rudiments  of  knowledge ; 
and  it  is  probable  that  from  her,  who  had  been  brought 
up  in  the  thrift  of  a  New  England  seaport  whose  people 
from  the  first  have  had  a  pervading  turn  towards  com- 
merce and  trade,  he  acquired  that  exactness  in  accounts 
for  which  he  was  so  remarkable.  But  no  general  literary 
interest  surrounded  his  bringing  up  ;  and  most  of  his 
life,  before  the  devolution,  had  been  spent  in  out-door 
occupations.  He  eminently  deserves  a  place  among 
self-educated  men. 

Colonel  Pickering  —  whose  testimony  to  the  point,  as 
a  member  of  his  military  family  and  in  subsequent  official 
stations  of  the  closest  intimacy,  and  as  a  constant  corre- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  101 

spondent,  is  perfectly  decisive  —  shows,  in  the  foregoing 
extracts,  with  what  perseverance  and  patient  industry, 
in  the  midst  of  crowded  cares,  through  the  war  and  his 
administration  of  the  Government,  Washington  studied 
to  rectify  his  style,  until  it  became  in  perfect  harmony 
with  his  character,  correct,  clear,  unaffected,  dignified, 
and  worthy  of  his  great  position. 

It  further  appears  from  Pickering's  statements  that,  in 
preparing  documents  to  be  issued  under  his  signature, 
Washington  had  no  other  thought  than  of  the  public 
good.  He  had  no  ambition  to  gain  credit  to  himself  as 
a  writer.  He  had  no  attachment  to  his  own  forms  of 
expression  or  mode  of  presenting  a  subject.  He  had,  in 
short,  no  pride  of  authorship.  He  composed  the  writing, 
in  hand,  according  to  his  own  best  judgment ;  but,  diffi- 
dent of  his  ability  and  skill  in  such  matters,  if  the  paper 
was  of  sufficient  importance,  he  submitted  his  draught 
to  others  for  examination,  revision,  and  improvement ; 
and,  after  it  had  received  the  benefit  of  their  suggestions 
and  criticisms,  he  carefully  rewrote  it.  His  habitual 
love  of  exactness,  and  desire  to  do  every  thing  with  pro- 
priet}',  led  him  to  adopt  this  course,  even  in  much  of 
his  personal  and  private  correspondence.  When,  at  any 
juncture,  time  was  not  allowed  to  write  himself,  he  called 
upon  his  Secretaries,  or  officers  of  his  staff,  to  compose 
the  paper,  in  the  first  instance  ;  and  if  upon  a  careful 
perusal  it  was  found  suitable,  he  adopted  it,  copying  it, 
if  possible,  into  his  own  handwriting,  and  gave  it  his 
signature.  He  thus  assumed  and  identified  himself 
with  it,  as  an  act  of  propriety  or  courtesy  to  the 
party  addressed,  and  to  give  it  autliority,  without  the 
least  idea  of  there  being  any  literary  pretensions  whatever 
about  it. 


102  LITE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

When  the  subject  and  purpose  of  the  paper  were  of 
great  moment,  and  could  be  leisurely  prepared,  he  often 
asked  the  members  of  the  cabinet  and  others,  each  to 
make  a  full  original  draught.  Collecting  and  comparing 
them,  and  making  such  additions,  omissions,  or  varia- 
tions of  any  kind  as  he  might  deem  desirable,  he  would 
frame  out  of  them,  in  his  own  handwriting,  the  final 
document.  He  took  all  this  pains  from  that  conscien- 
tious gense  of  duty,  which  governed  him  in  all  things. 
In  preparing  General  Orders  for  the  Army,  or  Speeches 
to  Congress,  or  public  xlddresses,  there  was  no  vanity 
or  conceit  of  his  own  to  be  gratified,  but  a  sole  desire 
to  have  it  done,  in  the  best  attainable  manner,  whoever 
did  it,  or  aided  in  doing  it. 

It  is  entirely  an  error  that  has  grown  up  among  the 
people,  not  entertained  at  all  by  Washington  or  John 
Adams,  to  attach  importance  to  the  mere  authorship  of 
public  papers.  The  only  legitimate  merit  they  can 
have,  is  clearness,  simplicity,  and  accuracy,  in  conveying 
.  the  designed  facts  and  sentiments.  If  public  men 
should  all,  and  always,  act  upon  this  view,  and  —  instead 
of  seeking  to  gain  a  sort  of  literary  credit  to  their 
speeches  and  reports,  by  making  them  the  occasions 
of  mere  fine  writing,  and  of  a  personal  display  of  learn- 
ing, ornamentation,  or  flourishes  of  rhetoric  —  use 
language,  as  Washington  did,  solely  as  the  means  of 
conveying  truth  and  knowledge,  the  afi'airs  of  state 
would  feel  the  benefit. 

The  statements  in  Colonel  Pickering's  letters  to 
Richard  Peters  written  in  1811,  taken  in  connection 
with  what  is  found  in  the  "  Writings  "  of  Washington, 
and  the  "  Works  "  of  Hamilton,  published  many  years 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  103 

afterwards,  afford,  at  last,  the  means  required  for  the 
solution  of  the  question  of  the  authorship  of  the  Fare- 
well Address  of  Washington  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  in  the  last  year  of  his  Presidency, 
published,    September    17th,    1796 

It  appears  that  Colonel  Pickering,  who  had  uncom- 
mon critical  acumen,  and  was  particularly  qualified  to 
give  an  opinion  on  the  point,  was  strongly  convinced 
that  Washington  was  its  author  almost  wholly ;  and 
after  it  became  known  that  it  had  been  found  in 
Hamilton's  handwriting,  among  the  papers  of  that 
distinguished  person,  Pickering  still  maintained  that 
Washington  had  incorporated  his  own  labors  in  the 
document,  to  a  large  extent,  making  a  "  variety  of 
alterations  to  render  it  conformable  to  his  ow^n  views 
and  feelings." 

The  facts,  as  now  known,  are  as  follows,  Washington 
designed  to  withdraw  from  public  life  at  the  close  of 
his  first  Presidential  term,  and,  as  the  period  approached, 
he  formed  the  purpose  of  making  a  "  Valedictory  Ad- 
dress." He  conferred  with  Madison  on  the  subject,  and 
in  a  long  letter  to  him,  dated  May  20th,  1792,  enumer- 
ated and  enlarged  upon  the  topics  which,  he  thought, 
ought  to  enter  into  such  an  address.  In  compliance 
with  a  wish  expressed  in  the  letter,  Madison  prepared  a 
draught  suitable,  in  his  view,  to  the  purpose,  and  com- 
municated it  on  the  20th  of  June,  1792.  The  state  of 
affairs,  and  the  will  of  the  people,  compelled  Washing- 
ton to  serve  another  term  ;  as  the  expiration  of  which 
drew  on,  he  again  turned  his  thoughts  to  the  subject  of 
a  Farewell  Address.  The  correspondence  with  Madi- 
son, and  the  draught  then  prepared,  were  before  him. 


104  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

By  referring  to  them,  and  using  the  materials  supplied  by 
the  experience  and  reflections  of  the  four  intermediate 
years,  he  put  his  views  into  shape. 

The  following  letter  is  from  Hamilton  to  "Washington, 
May  lOth,  1796. 

"  When  last  in  Philadelphia,  you  mentioned  to  me  your 
wish  that  I  should  re-dress  a  certain  paper  which  you  had 
prepared.  As  it  is  important  that  a  thing  of  this  kind 
should  he  done  with  great  care,  and  much  at  leisure,  touched 
and  retouched,  I  submit  a  wish  that,  as  soon  as  you  have 
given  it  the  bodi/  you  mean  it  to  have,  it  may  be  sent  to  me." 

Washington  writing  on  the  loth  of  May,  says :  "  I 
have  been  favored  with  your  letter  of  the  10th  instant ; 
and  enclose  (in  its  rough  state)  the  paper  mentioned 
therein."  He  gives  Hamilton  full  power,  and  expresses 
his  wish  that  he  would  exercise  it  freely,  to  amend  or 
alter  the  paper.  "  Even  if  you  would  think  it  best  to 
throw  the  whole  into  a  different  form,  let  me  request, 
notwithstanding,  that  my  draught  may  be  returned  to 
me  (along  with  yours),  with  such  amendments  and  cor- 
rections, as  to  render  it  as  perfect  as  the  formation  is 
susceptible  of;  curtailed,  if  too  verbose  ;  and  relieved  of 
all  tautology  not  necessary  to  enforce  the  ideas  in  the 
original."  ''  My  wish  is  that  the  whole  may  appear  in 
a  plain  style ;  and  be  handed  to  the  public  in  an  honest, 
unafl"ected,  simple  garb." 

Hamilton  upon  receiving  the  paper,  and  examining 
it,  concluded  that  it  was  best  to  leave  the  draught  "  un- 
touched and  in  its  fair  state,''  and  to  write  the  whole 
over  with  such  amendments,  alterations,  and  correc- 
tions  as  he    thought    were   advisable.      Having    done 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERIXG.  105 

this,  he  arranged  a  meethig  with  John  Jay,  whom 
Washington  had  requested  him  to  consult  on  the  occa- 
sion, read  over  to  him  the  draught  he  had  made,  and 
urged  him  to  offer  such  suggestions  as  occurred  to 
him.  Mr.  Jay  gave  the  subject  careful  attention,  and 
some  slight  amendments  were  made,  during  the  inter- 
view. On  the  30th  of  July,  Hamilton  wrote  to  Wash- 
ington, enclosing  the  papers.  On  the  25th  of  August, 
Washington  acknowledged  their  receipt,  and  expressed 
his  strong  approval  of  Hamilton's  draught ;  but,  wishing 
some  further  change  to  be  made,  he  sent  it  back ; 
"  knowing,"  he  says,  that  "  after  a  writing  has  been  out 
of  sight  for  some  time,"  it  may  be  better  amended 
"  than  while  it  is  in  hand,  I  send  it  in  conformity 
thereto,  with  a  request,  however,  that  you  would  return 
it  as  soon  as  you  have  carefully  re-examined  it."  There 
was  considerable  correspondence,  first  and  last,  between 
them,  as  to  details  ;  and  at  its  conclusion,  Washington 
drew  out  the  whole  document,  in  his  own  handwriting, 
and  submitted  it  to  his  cabinet,  as  is  stated  by  Picker- 
ing. They  made  some  few  suggestions  and  corrections, 
and  the  '^  Address  "  received  its  final  form.  Hamilton's 
draught  w^as  undoubtedly  returned  to  him,  and  placed 
among  his  papers.  A  comparison  of  it  with  the  docu- 
ment as  published  by  Washington,  shows  that  it  under- 
went considerable  change  after  leaving  Hamilton's  hands. 
Such  is  the  history  of  this  celebrated  and  ever-mem- 
orable  public  paper.  Light  was  reflected  upon  it,  in 
all  the  stages  of  its  preparation,  from  the  minds  of 
Madison,  Hamilton,  Jay,  and  of  the  heads  of  the  sev- 
eral departments  of  the  government.  When  it  is 
considered    that    it    was   Washington's    own    original 


106  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

conception,  that  he  wrote  its  heads  to  Madison,  in  the 
first  instance,  threw  it  again  into  form  before  sending 
it  to  Hamilton,  added  to  and  altered  Hamilton's  draught, 
copied  it,  over  and  over  again,  with  his  own  hand,  keep- 
ing it  under  his  controlling  judgment  all  along,  and 
revising  it  with  his  ow^n  pen  to  the  last,  it  cannot  be 
a  question  that  he  is  fully  entitled  to  the  character  of 
its  author.  All  writers  are  indebted  to  others.  The 
value  of  a  w^ork,  generally,  arises  from  the  extent  to 
which  the  wisdom  and  knowledge  of  previous  authori- 
ties have  contributed  to  its  production.  Other  authors 
draw  upon  the  works  of  the  dead.  Washington  invoked 
the  aid  of  the  living. 

As  has  been  stated,  from  w^hatever  sources  aid  was 

*  ft 

contributed  in  framing  them,  or  however  much  they 
may  have  been  revised,  it  was  Washington's  custom  to 
have  the  final  draught  of  any  public  document,  signed 
by  him,  in  his  own  handwriting.  The  inquiry  was  put 
to  Colonel  Pickering,  how  this  fact  was  ascertained 
as  to  the  Farewell  Address.  He  replied  that  "  it 
was  incontestably  General  Washington's  handwriting," 
which  "  was  familiarly  known "  to  him,  as  he  says, 
"  from  the  year  1777,  when  I  joined  the  army  under  his 
immediate  command,  to  the  last  year  of  his  life,  espe- 
cially in  my  official  intercourse  and  correspondence  with 
him  for  above  fifteen  years.  During  different  portions 
of  that  period,  I  had  also  many  original  letters  from  the 
General,  arising  from  my  correspondence  with  him, 
chiefly  in  relation  to  public  affairs,  yet  not  official,  and 
which  therefore  remain  with  me.  The  uniformity  of 
General  Washington's  handwriting  is  so  remarkable, 
that  anv  one,  accustomed  to    notice  various   hand  writ- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  107 

ings,  would,  after  attentively  viewing  one  specimen,  be 
able,  without  hesitation,  to  certify  the  identity  of  every 
other." 

As  to  the  subject  of  this  chapter  generally,  the  writer 
may  be  permitted  to  say,  that  from  no  sources  whatever 
has  he  derived  so  much  to  heighten  his  opinion  of  the 
character  of  Washins^ton  as  from  the  conversations  of 
Colonel  Pickering.  All  who  enjoyed  his  intimacy,  and 
listened  to  the  stories  and  anecdotes  with  which  his 
memorv  was  full,  and  which  he  related  with  inimitable 
accuracy  and  force  of  expression,  will  concur  in  this 
statement.  Among  the  revolutionary  reminiscences, 
often  heard  from  his  own  lips,  was  the  following,  which 
may  properly  close  this  inquisition  into  his  real  estimate 
of  the  Father  of  our  Countrv. 

In  one  of  his  letters  to  Judge  Peters,  Colonel  Picker- 
ing says :  —  * 

**  You  mention  the  General's  equanimity  under  the  severest 
embarrassments  and  disasters.  In  this  I  entirely  concur. 
But  I  once  saw  him  overcome  by  great  good  news.'" 

He  goes  on  to  describe  the  occasion  to  Peters  ;  but 
I  prefer  to  give  it  as  he  related  it  to  me,  with  much 
more  detail. 

I  The  cabal  in  the  army  against  Washington,  which 
has  been  mentioned  in  this  chapter,  embraced  many 
officers,  and  is  understood  to  have  had  a  considerable 

'  support  among  members  of  Congress.  It  never  will  be 
known  how  far  it  had   spread  ;  but,  for  some  time,  it 

i  had  been  extending  its  influence,  and  had  become  quite 
seriously  formidable.  After  the  unfortunate  battles  of 
Brandywine  and  Germantown,  it  acquired  much  strength, 
and  those  engaged  in^  it  began  to  speak  out  freely,  and 


]08  T^IFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

were  confident  of  success.  The  officer  who  had  been 
generally  thought  of  to  supplant  Washington,  was,  as 
has  been  stated,  Horatio  Gates,  then  in  command  of  the 
Northern  Army.  He  had  seen  much  service,  and  was 
possessed  of  many  attractive  qualities. 

At  the  very  moment  when  this  intrigue  had  reached 
its  head,  and  was  about  to  break  out  —  when,  in  fact, 
its  managers  had  begun  to  speak  and  act  openly  —  a 
rumor  was  found  circulating  in  camp  and  at  head-quar- 
ters, that  Gates  had  won  a  brilliant  and  decisive  victory. 
It  could  not  be  traced  to  any  source,  and  how  it  got 
into  currency  was  never  explained.  Perhaps  it  orig- 
inated among  the  cabal,  the  wish  alone  being  father  to 
the  thought.  Days  passed  without  any  intelligence 
whatever  to  sustain  or  contradict  it.  Of  course,  a 
state  of  intense  excitement  was  created.  All  were 
anxiously  awaiting  information.  In  the  mean  time,  the 
sentiment  was  freely  and  widely  expressed,  that,  if  con- 
firmed, it  would  be  fatal  to  Washington,  his  days  as 
Commander  in-Chief  be  numbered,  and  Gates  carried 
by  an  irresistible  enthusiasm  to  the  head  of  the  army. 
The  recently  and  repeatedly  defeated  General  would 
have  to  give  way  to  the  triumphant  one.  Washington 
was  fully  acquainted  with  this  state  of  things,  and  with 
what  it  was  thought  would  be  the  consequence  to  him- 
self, if  the  rumor  should  be  found  to  be  true. 

At  this  very  crisis,  one  afternoon.  Colonel  Pickering 
was  with  him  for  the  transaction  of  business.  Colonel 
William  Palfrey,  the  Paymaster-General  of  the  army, 
grandfather  of  John  Gorham  Palfrey,  was  also  present. 
The  General's  quarters  were  in  a  house  on  the  Ship- 
pack  road,  eighteen  or  twenty  miles  from  Philadelphia. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  109 

After  business  was  despatched,  the  General  inqmred  as 
to  the  rumor,  and  some  conversation  was  had  in  refer- 
ence to  it.  The  road  led  southwardly,  to  York  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  Congress  was  then  in  session  ;  and 
was  open  to  view  from  the  General's  windows,  for  a 
considerable  distance  towards  the  north.  A  horseman 
was  seen  coming  from  that  direction.  They  watched 
his  approach  with  eager  interest.  Soon  it  was  noticed 
that  he  had  the  appearance  of  an  express-rider.  Pal- 
frey was  requested  to  go  out  and  accost  him.  He  did 
so,  and  found  him  bearing  a  despatch  to  Congress. 
Knowing  the  superscription  to  be  in  the  handwriting 
of  one  of  his  deputies,  Jonathan  Trumbull,  then  at 
Albany  or  its  neighborhood,  he  took  the  document  from 
the  express-man  to  show  it  to  the  General.  The  rider 
told  him  the  news.  Meeting  Pickering  on  his  way,  he 
communicated  to  him  the  information.  They  went  into 
the  General's  room  together.  Colonel  Palfrey  drew 
out  the  end  of  an  envelope,  and  then  the  letter, 
handing  it  to  the  General.  Not  a  word  was  spoken. 
Washington  unfolded  the  document,  and  proceeded  to  read 
it  aloud,  Pickering  and  Palfrey  watching  his  expression. 
As  he  read,  his  voice  began  to  falter,  his  articulation 
became  slow,  and  broke  under  the  intensity  of  his  feel- 
ings ;  as  it  became  apparent  that  the  letter  was  announc- 
ing the  surrender  of  Burgoyne  and  his  entire  army,  he 
could  read  no  more,  but  passed  it  to  Colonel  Palfrey, 
signifying  that  he  wished  him  to  finish  it,  which  he  did, 
aloud.  As  he  concluded,  Washington  lifted  his  coun- 
tenance and  his  hands  towards  Heaven,  and  was  lost  in 
a  rapture  of  adoring  gratitude. 

He  demonstrated  a  mind  incapable  of  envy  or  self- 


110  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

ishness  ;  transported  with  joy  at  a  victory  the  honor  of 
which  would  be  another's,  and  its  effect  perhaps  fatal 
to  his  own  personal  ascendancy  and  fame,  but  which 
gave  earnest  of  the  success  of  the  great  cause. 

Colonel  Pickering  used  to  say,  in  relating  this  scene, 
that  the  spectacle  was  truly  sublime.  He  beheld 
humanity  in  its  noblest  grandeur,  —  a  man  to  whom 
self  was  nothing,  his  country  every  thing.  The  image 
and  personification  of  a  Patriot  was  transfigured  before 
him. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKEKING.  HI 


I 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Colonel  Pickering  and  the  Tories  of  the  Revolution. 

1775-1783. 

Public  controversies,  if  long  continued,  especially  if 
they  assume  the  form  of  a  contest  of  physical  force  and 
open  war,  engender  hatred,  revenge,  and  all  evil  ani- 
mosities. Such  effects  were  particularly  likely  to  flow 
from  the  strifes  that  resulted  in  the  separation  from 
Great  Britain  of  her  American  Colonies,  embittered  as 
they  were  through  a  series  of  years,  first  in  the  realm  of 
argument,  and  then  on  fields  of  battle.  Before  closing 
the  review  of  Colonel  Pickering's  Revolutionary  career, 
the  question  deserves  to  be  considered,  How  he  was 
affected  by  these  influences  ? 

It  is  quite  certain,  as  has  been  shown,  that  for  years 
before  the  war  broke  out  he  was  under  a  deep  conviction 
that  such  an  issue  was  impending.  Hence  his  extraor- 
dinary activity  and  constant  efforts  to  prepare  for  it,  by 
turning  the  attention  of  the  people,  by  all  means  in 
his  power,  to  the  necessity  of  putting  themselves  into  a 
state  of  readiness  for  the  maintenance  of  their  rights  in 
arms.  Hence  his  laborious  drilling  of  his  townsmen 
and  their  neighbors,  in  organized  companies,  and  the 
preparation,  at  a  great  cost  of  time,  patience,  and  ex- 
pense, of  a  thoroughly  digested  and  fully  illustrated 
text-book  on  the  military  art,  for  general  use  in  his  own 
and  the  other  colonies.      While  he   thus  foresaw  and 


112  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

was  endeavoring  to  promote  a  general  readiness  to  meet 
the  conflict,  he  lamented  its  necessity,  and  regarded  all 
the  provocations  leading  to  it  with  profound  regret. 

The  sentiments  in  which  he  had  been  educated,  his 
most  cherished  associations,  professional  and  personal 
prospects,  all  family  ties,  affections,  and  interests,  led 
him  to  be  averse  to  revolutionary  convulsions.  His  young 
wife  was  an  Englishwoman.  His  venerated  father, 
although  in  most  traits  of  his  character  a  Puritan  of  the 
sternest  stamp,  was  penetrated  to  his  inmost  soul  with 
a  loyalty  to  the  throne  which  could  not  be  eradi- 
cated ;  while  feeling  that  the  people  of  the  Colonies  had 
much  to  complain  of,  he  abhorred  the  thought  of  rebellion, 
and  was  regarded  as  a  Tory  to  the  last.  Some  of  his 
sisters  lamented  the  course  he  took  in  resisting  the 
power  of  Great  Britain.  Many  of  his  dearest  friends 
espoused  the  royal  cause.  Through  life  he  had  a 
natural  repugance  to  agitations  of  all  sorts.  It  may  be 
said  with  literal  truth,  that  every  private  consideration, 
every  personal  taste  and  predilection,  every  domestic 
and  social  influence,  conspired  in  holding  him  back  from 
insurgent  measures.  But  he  had  studied  the  subject 
carefully  and  thoroughly ;  and  his  judgment  had  become 
Avholly  convinced  that  opposition  to  the  policy  of  the 
mother  country,  and  to  the  measures  of  its  administra- 
tion, was  a  duty  to  which  America  was  then  called,  and 
if  not  resolutely  and  persistently  made,  all  would  be  lost. 
He  knew  that  such  opposition,  sooner  or  later,  would 
have  to  assume  the  form  of  forcible  resistance  ;  and  his 
purpose  was  early  fixed,  at  every  sacrifice  of  feeling  and 
interest,  to  bear  his  part  in  it  when  the  day  of  trial 
should  come. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  llo 

While  he  fastened  with  his  regiment  to  the  field, 
when  the  conflict  in  arms  had  commenced  at  Lexington 
and  Concord,  and  was  ready  to  follow  up  the  work  of 
that  day  by  further  bold  and  decisive  measures,  he 
resfretted  that  hostilities  had  occurred  and  the  Rubicon 
been  passed  so  soon.  Giving  himself  forthwith  with 
such  entire  devotion  to  the  cause  ;  abandoning  every 
thing  else  ;  raising  a  new  regiment,  and  marching  it  in 
the  dead  of  winter,  at  the  darkest  hour  of  the  war,  to 
the  support  of  almost  a  forlorn  hope  in  the  Jerseys  : 
standing  by  the  side  of  Washington  in  council  and  in 
combat  at  the  highest  post  of  his  personal  stafl*;  and 
conducting  the  most  arduous,  complicated,  and  moment- 
ous department  of  the  army ;  providing  and  directing 
the  whole  machinery  for  the  maintenance,  subsistence, 
and  movements  of  the  troops, — -his  heart  still  and  ever 
longed  for  peace,  and  he  indulged  throughout,  at  every 
stage  of  the  protracted  conflict,  an  illusive  confidence 
that  its  end  was  at  hand.  His  prayer  was  continually 
ofl'ered  up  that  the  horrors  and  hatreds  of  the  desperate 
and  unnatural  strife  might  speedily  cease. 

W^hile  cherishing  these  sentiments,  it  was  natural  and 
easy  for  him  to  preserve  throughout  a  generous  and 
liberal  spirit  towards  his  opponents.  He  sought  to 
temper  belligerent  passions  by  all  expressions  and  offices 
of  charity,  kindness,  and  good-will ;  and  to  divest  the 
war,  as  far  as  possible,  of  violence,  harshness,  and  intol- 
erance. His  correspondence  with  Andrew  Oliver  when 
the  controversy  was  approaching  the  point  at  which  the 
sword  was  to  be  drawn,  and  with  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances who  had  espoused  the  royal  cause,  at  every  stage 
of  the  war,  show  that  his  feelings  remained  kindly  and 

Vol.  II.  8 


114  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

charitable  towards  them  all.  He  condemned  and 
abhorred  mob  outrages,  and  rough  usages  practised 
upon   the    persons  of  Tories. 

This  spirit  towards  those  opposed  to  him  on  the  great 
issue  put  to  the  arbitrament  of  arms  between  the  Colonies 
and  the  mother  country  is  especially  illustrated  by  fhe 
course  he  took  in  reference  to  one  point  of  public  policy 
in  that  crisis.  He  condemned  the  legislation  adopted  in 
several  of  the  States,  resulting  in  the  forcible  exile  of 
Tories  and  the  confiscation  of  their  estates,  and  the  indis- 
criminate and  sweeping  manner  in  which  these  measures 
were  generally  carried  out.  This  severity  of  procedure, 
while  it  was  deemed,  in  the  judgment  of  those  who  con- 
trolled the  movements  of  the  patriots,  to  be  indispensable, 
was  regretted  at  the  time  by  others,  friends  of  the 
Kevolutionary  cause  ;  and  its  wisdom  and  necessity  have 
been  open  questions  ever  since.  Considerations  that 
noAV  force  themselves  upon  the  attention  of  thinking 
men  are  preparing  the  public  mind  to  come  to  a  decisive 
judgment  on  the  point.  Looking  back,  after  the  lapse 
of  a  century,  when  all  the  passions  of  that  period  have 
passed  away,  and  in  the  light  of  subsequent  events,  by 
which  the  consequences  of  such  a  policy  have  become 
visible, —  with  a  view  fully  comprehending  the  lessons 
taught  in  that  Revolution,  and  in  convulsions  that  have 
occurred  in  other  nations,  —  it  is  impossible  to  avoid 
the  conclusion  that  it  was  as  contrary  to  wise  statesman- 
ship as  to  humanity.  Besides  having  caused  much  suf- 
fering to  individuals,  and  subjected  whole  families  to  ruin, 
and  a  considerable  portion  of  the  community  to  severe 
distress,  at  the  time  and  ever  afterwards,  it  operated 
most  unfavorably  upon  the  general  welfare,  and  became 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  115 

the  source  of  evils  and  mischiefs  which  still  embarrass 
public  affairs,  retarding  the  union,  and  threatening  to 
prevent  permanently  the  harmony,  of  the  great  English 
race  on  the  North  American  Continent. 

Sequestration  of  the  estates  of  particular  prominent 
individuals  who  were  known  to  have  encouraged  the 
British  ministry  in  its  obnoxious  measures,  or  who  early, 
and  w^ithout  personal  provocation,  had  drawn  their  swords 
in  the  Koyal  cause,  would  have  left  little  room  for  com- 
plaint, and  been  what  all  might  have  expected ;  but 
beyond  this  it  was  not  necessary  to  have  gone.  In  public 
distractions  vengeful  penalties  should  not  be  inflicted 
upon  great  multitudes  of  persons.  Especially  ought 
they  not  to  be  imposed  upon  whole  classes  w^ho,  from 
an  honest  difl'erence  of  opinion  or  theory,  fail  to  parti- 
cipate in  particular  demonstrations. 

Every  one  was  treated  as  a  public  enemy  who  did  not 
instantly  and  earnestly  take  an  active  part  on  the  popu- 
lar side.  None  were  suffered  to  suo:2:est  a  doubt  as  to 
the  right  and  duty  of  resistance  to  the  mother  country, 
or  to  hint  a  misgiving  as  to  the  successful  results  of 
that  resistance.  Large  numbers  in  all  conditions  of 
life,  averse  from  constitutional  temperament  to  civil  tu- 
mult, begged  to  be  allowed  to  stand  aloof  from  the  con- 
test in  silent  inaction.  Of  this  class  there  Vvas  pro- 
bably an  equal  number  of  sympathizers  with  both 
sides,  who  would  thus  have  balanced  and  neutral- 
ized each  other.  But  not  being  suffered  to  remain 
passive  and  quiet,  nearly  the  whole  of  them  were  finally 
turned  against  the  country.  They  either  left  it  or  were 
driven  out.  With  as  deep  interest  in  their  native  land 
as   their  neighbors,   and  hearts    attached   to  it  by  the 


116  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

strongest  ties,  merely  because  they  had  honest  doubts 
of  the  wisdom  or  success  of  the  movement,  they  were 
exiled  from  it  for  ever. 

There  w^as  another  description  of  persons  who 
claimed  the  right,  as  British  born  men,  of  freedom  of 
thought  and  of  speech,  and,  in  the  exercise  of  that 
right,  to  express  to  their  neighbors,  acquaintances,  and 
fellows-citizens  their  opinions  w^ithout  molestation.  If 
overruled,  and  while  overruled,  by  a  majority  of  their 
countrymen,  they  claimed  the  right,  usually  conceded  to 
a  political  opposition,  to  still  argue  and  discuss  public 
measures,  without  forfeiting  their  positions  as  members 
of  the  community.  Adverse  as  were  their  judgment 
and  feelings,  at  that  time,  to  a  war  with  Great  Britain, 
and  continuing  freely,  but  temperately,  to  utter  their 
sentiments  to  that  effect,  they  not  only  remonstrated 
against  being  cut  off'  from  the  body-politic,  but  insisted, 
on  the  contrary,  that  they  should  be  numbered  with 
their  fellow-citizens,  and  allowed  to  share  their  lot ;  and, 
if  in  spite  of  their  dissent,  and  persistence  in  dissuad- 
ing and  trying  to  prevent  a  rupture  with  the  mother 
country,  such  an  event  should  take  place,  they  claimed 
to  be  reckoned  as  participants  in  the  common  fate,  and 
bear  the  burdens  and  liabilities  incident  to  it,  to  be  in- 
cluded and  reckoned,  equally  with  others,  in  all  assess- 
ments and  contributions,  imposed  or  called  for  by  the 
local  authorities,  —  in  a  word,  to  be  taxed,  counted  in 
levies,  pecuniary  or  personal,  and,  in  all  respects,  subject 
to  the  same  treatment  as  the  rest  of  their  countrymen. 
No  heed  was  given  to  such  claims,  petitions,  and  re- 
monstrances. An  inexorable  ostracism  took  effect  upon 
almost  every  one  who  did  not  openly  and  actively  par- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  117 

ticipate  in  the  popular  movement.  Dissenters  and 
doubters  were  indiscriminately  held  up  to  odium,  and  in 
great  numbers  stripped  of  their  estates,  and  conse- 
quently   driven   from   the    country. 

This  procedure  against  what  were  called  Tories  was, 
it  is  probable,  wholly  unnecessary.  Their  relative  pro- 
portion to  the  patriotic  party  was  so  small  that  they 
could  have  been  kept  under  restraint.  The  inevitable 
influence  of  local  enthusiasm,  and  of  the  laws  which 
affect  the  social  condition  of  men,  w^ould  have  thinned 
their  ranks  from  day  to  day.  The  surrender  of  Burgoyne, 
with  his  army,  would  have  taken  away  the  ground  upon 
w^hich  most  of  them  stood,  which  was  an  honest  appre- 
hension that  resistance  to  Great  Britain  was  impracti- 
cable, rash,  and  sure  in  its  failure  to  entail  upon  the 
Colonies  a  more  abject  and  hopeless  subjugation  than 
ever  before  to  the  mother  country.  From  that  hour 
unanimity  would  have  pervaded  the  entire  people.  x\ll 
would  have  been  drawn  to  the  support  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary cause,  or,  if  here  and  there  opposition  had  con- 
tinued to  be  shown,  it  would  have  been  of  no  account. 

The  harsh  treatment  of  citizens  opposed  to,  or  not 
prepared  for,  the  Revolution  was  not  only  unnecessary, 
but  produced  evil  effects  upon  the  progress  of  the  con- 
test. The  country  lost  much,  at  the  time,  in  population, 
wealth,  talent,  energy,  and  enterprise.  Families  of  the 
highest  respectability,  men  of  education,  intelligence, 
and  worth,  many  of  them  engaged  in  branches  of  in- 
dustry and  trade,  most  promotive  of  the  general  pros- 
perity, were  either  forcibly  exiled,  or  led  by  actual  or 
threatened  violence  to  fly  to  other  lands.  Some  went 
to  the  Canadas  or  the  West  Indies  ;  some  to  Holland, 


118  LIFE  OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

France,  or  other  parts  of  Europe ;  and  many  to  the 
mother  country.  Large  numbers  —  exasperated  by  what 
they  regarded  as  personal  wrongs,  rendered  reckless 
by  the  confiscation  of  their  property,  and  feeling  them- 
selves wholly  absolved  from  allegiance  to  a  country 
which,  by  its  own  act,  had  rendered  them  aliens,  and 
compelled  them,  as  the  only  possible  means  of  recover- 
ing their  estates  and  rights,  into  the  attitude  of  belliger- 
ents —  took  up  arms  as  British  subjects  under  the  royal 
banner.  The  question  of  disputed  allegiance  —  whether 
to  their  native  Colonies  or  their  native  Sovereign  —  was 
forcibly  settled  against  the  former,  and  all  that  was  left 
was  to  render  it  to  the  latter.  It  must  be  conceded  not 
only  as  a  right,  but  as  a  necessity,  of  every  man,  to  have 
a  country  ;  and  not  being  suffered  to  remain  Americans, 
their  only  alternative  was  to  be  Britons. 

Regiments,  composed  entirely  of  expatriated  Tories, 
called  Royal  Refugees  or  Loyal  Americans,  constituted 
an  efficient  portion  of  the  British  army.  Consisting,  for 
the  most  part,  of  superior  materials,  actuated  by  a  per- 
vading resentment  of  deeply  felt  individual  ill-usage,  and 
fighting  under  circumstances  that  made  them  desperate, 
they  inflicted  more  damage,  in  battles  and  raids,  than  all 
the  German  mercenaries  employed  on  that  side. 

The  highest  element  of  statesmanship  is  a  forecast  of 
the  remote  and  ultimate  consequences  of  public  measures. 
The  expulsion  of  the  Tories  has  been  found  to  be  the 
greatest  and  m.ost  mischievous  political  blunder  in  Ameri- 
can history.  Permanent,  perhaps  interminable,  injury  to 
the  American  Republic  has  resulted.  Families  and  indi- 
viduals—  embracing  large  numbers,  not  only  of  eminent 
persons  of  the  highest  culture  and  social  position,  but 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  119 

every  variety  of  useful  industrial  pursuits  belonging  to 
the  middling  classes,  particularly  mechanics  and  agri- 
culturists —  were  driven  to  the  Canadian  and  Eastern 
British  Provinces,  raising  them  at  once  into  formidable, 
and  infusing  into  them  a  spirit  that  has  rendered  them, 
to  a  great  extent,  unfriendly,  neighbors.  A  considerable 
portion  went  to  Canada,  some  of  whom  filled,  for  the 
rest  of  their  days,  high  stations  there,  and  all  imparting 
naturally  a  hostile  feeling,  more  or  less  bitter  and  endur- 
ing, against  the  United  States. 

The  chief  evil,  in  this  point  of  view,  resulting  from 
the  expatriating  policy  of  the  American  Kevolutionary 
governments,  is  that  it  maybe  said  to  have  brought  into 
existence  the  present  Eastern  British  Provinces.  There 
was  already,  it  is  true,  within  their  limits,  a  scattered 
and  thin  population,  —  consisting,  besides  descendants  of 
the  original  French  settlers,  of  Xew-Englanders  drawn 
there  to  occupy  the  fine  alluvial  lands  from  which  the 
Acadians  had  been  forcibly  transported  ;  of  some  small 
Colonies  that  had  emigrated  before  the  Revolution, 
mostly  from  Massachusetts  and  Xew  Hampshire,  and 
settled  at  Woodstock,  and  a  few  places  lower  down  on 
the  banks  and  at  the  mouth  of  the  Piver  St.  John,  at 
Truro,  Yarmouth,  and  near  several  other  of  the  fine 
harbors  on  the  Nova  Scotia  shore,  with  here  and  there 
an  emigrant  from  England,  Scotland,  or  Ireland.  If 
left  to  themselves,  the  sympathies  of  most  of  these  people 
would  have  been  with  the  United  States. 

The  flood  of  exiles  poured  into  that  country  at  the 
time  of  the  Pevolution  changed  its  political  character 
at  once.  Its  people  became  intensely  imbued  with 
loyalty  to  Great  Britain  and  with  the  most  unfriendly 


120  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

feelings  towards  the  United  States ;  and  the  stamp,  then 
and  thus  given  them,  appears  to  this  day.  A  thorn 
was  phmted  in  our  side,  which  has  been  felt  in  every 
crisis  of  our  country.  In  the  Revolutionary  war,  the 
elements  of  strength  and  the  provocations  to  hatred  im- 
parted by  the  great  mass  of  refugee  Tories,  made  all 
attempts  to  induce  them  to  take  the  American  side,  or 
to  subjugate  them,  fruitless  and  inglorious.  In  the  war 
of  1812,  the  whole  power  of  the  United  States  was  thrown 
upon. Canada  in  vain;  and,  at  its  close,  the  British  flag 
was  floating  at  many  points  within  the  boundaries  of  the 
Eastern  States. 

In  the  recent  struggle  for  the  preservation  of  the 
American  Union  and  the  life  of  the  Kepublic,  all  know 
what  was  suffered  from  the  sympathy,  in  various  effective 
expressions,  of  those  Provinces  in  behalf  of  the  insurgent 
States,  partly,  no  doubt,  from  the  ancient  grudge,  as  well 
as  from  interested  motives.  It  may  always  be  expected 
that  a  sinister  influence  upon  the  affairs  of  the  United 
States  will  be  felt  from  that  quarter  whenever  engaged 
in  an  intestine  or  foreign  war.  In  a  war  with  Great 
Britain,  the  United  States  will  be  put  to  an  incalculable 
disadvantage. 

If  it  had  not  been  for  the  peopling  of  the  British 
Provinces  by  the  exile  of  the  Tories  to  them,  consequent 
upon  the  sweeping  confiscation  of  their  estates,  the 
acknowledgment  of  American  Independence  would  prob- 
ably have  been  made  much  earlier,  and  the  northern 
boundaries  of  the  United  States  much  more  favorably 
adjusted.  They  might  have  followed  the  River  and 
Gulf  of  St.  Law^rence  to  the  Northern  Ocean. 

If  the  Eastern   Provinces  had   not  been   so   largely 


LIFE    OF    TIMOTHY  PICKEEING.  l2l 

peopled  by  American  exiles,  and  by  that  means  rendered 
so  considerable  ;  if  they  had  merely  possessed  the  popu- 
lation prior  to  the  advent  of  the  Tory  Eefugees,  —  they 
would  probably  have  been  surrendered  as  willingly  as 
the  Western  posts  with  the  vast  territories  beyond  and 
around  them,  and  have  becoaie  part  and  parcel  of  the 
United  States  by  the  Treaty  of  Independence.  But  the 
English  government  felt  constrained  by  humanity  and 
honor  to  provide  for  the  security  of  those  who  had  sacri- 
ficed every  thing  in  their  allegiance  to  it,  and  to  keep 
extended  over  them  the  protecting  folds  of  the  flag  to 
which  they  had  proved  so  true. 

If  the  expulsion  of  the  Tories,  with  its  attendant  feat- 
ures and  circumstances,  thus  to  any  considerable  degree 
strengthened  the  foundations  on  which  the  present  Brit- 
ish North  American  Provinces  stand,  as  a  permanent 
nation,  with  prejudices  and  traditional  sentiments,  by 
the  power  of  which  they  are  and  will  be  prevented  from 
coming  into  the  American  Union,  it  must  be  lamented 
and  condemned  by  every  wise  and  patriotic  mind  on  both 
sides  of  the  border,  and  by  the  friends  of  civilization, 
human  welfare,  and  peace  everywhere. 

The  entire  continent  north  of  the  American  Republic 
is,  at  length,  under  the  name  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada, 
consolidated  into  a  distinct,  compact  nationality.  To  all 
intents  and  purposes,  it  is  to  the  United  States  a  foreign 
and  rival  power.  Embracing  the  coast  from  Eastport 
around  the  Bay  of  Fundy  to  Cape  Sable,  and  the  whole 
North  Atlantic  shore,  with  adjacent  islands,  to  the  Pole  ; 
crossing  the  continent  on  a  line  extending  from  the  Gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence,  including  the  navigable  part  of  the 
great  river  of  that  name,  and  then  running  through  its 


122  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

centre  to  the  Gieat  Lakes  and  bisecting  them  ;  termi- 
nating at  the  Pacific,  —  it  comprehends  half  of  North 
America,  and  has  many  of  the  elements  of  an  empire : 
impregnable  citadels  at  Halifax  and  Quebec  ;  vast  and, 
in  many  respects,  unparalleled  resources  of  internal  and 
agricultural  wealth,  —  peltry,  lumber,  and  mines  ;  large 
regions  of  most  productive  soil ;  and  the  best  fishing 
grounds  of  the  globe.  Its  climate,  indeed,  is  for  the 
most  part  severe,  but  adapted  to  produce  a  hardy  and 
energetic  race  of  men,  physically  and  intellectually. 
It  is  to  be  regarded,  notwithstanding  the  wonderful 
growth  and  greatness  of  the  United  States,  as  a  formida- 
ble power,  and  arms  the  Imperial  Government  of  Great 
Britain,  in  case  of  a  collision  between  the  two  countries, 
with  a  fearful  advantage.  Too  large  a  part  of  the 
English-speaking  branch  of  the  human  family  is  thus 
placed  in  dangerous  antagonism  to  that  portion  of  it 
within   the  United   States. 

The  burdens  imposed  upon  the  governments  on  both 
sides,  with  a  dividing  boundary  of  many  thousands  of 
miles,  spanning  the  greatest  width  of  the  continent,  to 
be  guarded  at  every  point,  by  sea  and  land,  with  navies 
and  armies  ;  the  waste  of  uncounted  millions  in  main- 
taining a  double  floating  or  stationary  revenue  service, 
on  all  the  immeasurable  shores  of  rivers  and  lakes,  and 
along  invisible  lines  in  thinly  settled  regions,  or  through 
vast  wildernesses  ;  the  loss  incurred  by  both  sides,  in 
consequence  of  ingenious,  daring,  organized,  and,  to  a 
great  extent,  uncontrollable  smuggling,  everywhere  in 
operation,  —  these  are  among  the  items  that  help  us  to 
estimate  the  mischiefs  arising  from  two  nationalities 
where  there  ought  to  be,  and  need  be,  but  one.     To 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  123 

them  are  to  be  added  annoyances  to  travellers  from 
espionage  and  search,  from  currencies  of  different 
values  and  the  thousand  ways  in  which  the  channels  of 
business  and  intercourses  of  life  are  embarrassed  and 
obstructed ;  the  incubus  everywhere  pressing  upon 
enterprise,  checking  the  outlay  of  capital,  clogging 
the  transfer  and  handling  of  property,  personal  and 
real ;  and  liability  to  retaliatory  and  overreaching  legis- 
lation, to  misunderstandings,  and  to  war.  The  con- 
clusion, upon  a  view  of  the  whole  subject,  cannot  be 
avoided,  that  this  is  a  state  of  things  to  be  deprecated, 
in  the  highest  degree,  and  ought  not  ahvays  to  be  suf- 
fered. It  is  for  wase,  patriotic,  philanthropic,  and  cou- 
rageous statesmen  at  London,  Ottawa,  and  Washington, 
to  bring  it  to  an  end. 

I  The  hope  is  cherished,  and  the  vision  indulged  by 
thoughtful  and  benevolent  minds,  that  the  problem  of 
an  Utopia  will  at  length  be  solved  on  this  continent ; 
that  local  government  by  States,  and  a  union  of  them 
all,  will  make  one  people  over  its  entire  surface  ;  that, 
under  representative  institutions,  liberty  and  right  will 
everywhere  be  secured  ;  and  the  idea  of  an  undivided, 
harmonious,  and  prosperous  Republic  fully  and  per- 
manently realized  throughout  the  length  and  breadth 
of  North  America  ;  to  be  copied,  ultimately,  in  all  the 
other  quarters  of  the  world  ;  and  the  whole  human  race 
be  rescued  from  oppressions,  and  established  in  peaceful 
freedom./ 

From  the  landing  of  the  first  European  colonists,  at 
Plymouth  and  elsewhere,  the  process  towards  this  grand 
result  seems  to  have  been  steadily  going  on,  —  sub- 
ject, of   course,   to  obstructions   from   ordinary  causes. 


124  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

often  thrown  for  a  time  from  the  track,  and  turned 
back  by  the  errors,  foUies,  and  passions  which  mislead, 
more  or  less,  all  persons  and  all  societies  of  men.  There 
has,  however,  in  addition,  been  one  impediment  which, 
in  a  special  manner,  has  embarrassed  the  expansion  of 
that  political  system,  —  in  its  great  element  of  self-govern- 
ment suggested  in  the  cabin  of  the  "  Mayflower,"  — 
and  which  the  independence  on  foreign  or  outside  inter- 
ference, secured  to  the  old  thirteen  States  bv  the  result 
of  the  American  E.e volution,  practically  established  on 
a  large  scale.  An  adverse  power  has  been  in  constant 
contact  with  it,  along  its  confines,  checking  its  growth, 
—  a  frequent  assailant  and  a  perpetual  menace. 

The  Colonies,  in  their  infancy,  were  overshadowed 
by  a  dark  cloud  gathering  above  the  wilderness  behind 
them  along  the  whole  line  of  their  settlements  on  the 
sea-shore.  It  was  constantly  bursting  upon  them,  in 
Indian  massacres,  the  devastation  of  their  fields,  and  con- 
flagration of  their  habitations.  The  power  of  France, 
leagued  with  and  inciting  aboriginal  hostilities,  was 
gradually  drawn  around  them  from  the  Kennebec  to 
the  Mississippi.  For  more  than  a  hundred  years  the 
English  Colonies  were  thus  threatened  with  destruction. 
Defence  against  this  danger  consum-ed  their  resources, 
drained  their  population,  burdened  them  with  exhaust- 
ing taxation,  and  paralyzed  their  progressive  energies. 
The  conquest  of  Canada  by  Great  Britain,  at  last  re- 
moved this  obstacle  to  their  growth,  and  the  continent 
was  open  to  their  occupancy  and  expansion,  without 
a  foreign  possessor,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific, 
from  Florida  to  the  Pole. 

But  in  a  few  short  years  the  evil  was  strangely  renewed, 


LIFE   OF    TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  125 

continues  to  this  day,  and  threatens  to  embarrass  the 
relations  of  government,  and  impede  the  free  and  full 
development  of  civilization,  prosperity,  and  harmony, 
over  North  America,  for  indefinite  years  to  come.  A 
foreign  power  is  intrenched,  stronger  than  ever  before, 
along  the  entire  northern  boundary  of  the  United  States. 

No  more  remarkable  results  have  ever  occurred,  in 
the  game  of  nations,  than  have  followed  from  the  cession 
of  Canada  to  Great  Britain,  in  1760,  and  the  American 
Revolution,  breaking  out  fifteen  years  afterwards.  The 
first  event  secured  to  England  her  American  Colonies. 
The  second  event,  growing  out  of  the  first,  snatched  all 
those  Colonies  for  ever  out  of  her  hands.  The  people 
of  those  Colonies,  in  1760,  rejoiced  with  wdld  enthusiasm 
that  no  foreign  power  w^as  left  to  interrupt  their  devel- 
opment or  harass  their  borders  ;  that  the  continent  w^as 
all  their  own.  They  came  out  triumphant  from  their 
War  of  Independence,  in  1783,  but  again  to  find  a  foreign 
power  occupying  the  former  possessions  of  Frartce,  ex- 
tending along  the  same  line  from  ocean  to  ocean,  ruling 
over  the  greatest  breadth  of  the  continent ;  and  this  power 
they  had  themselves,  to  a  great  extent,  called  into  being. 
They  had  infused  into  it  a  new  and  stronger  life,  by  driv- 
ing multitudes  of  their  own  citizens  into  it,  thereby  giving 
an  impulse  that  has  continued  for  a  century  to  control 
and  advance  it,  until  it  has  become  almost  a  sovereignty 
in  itself ;  and  no  man  can  tell  what  inconveniences  and 
evils  may  arise  in  the  future  from  collisions  between  two 
portions  of  the  same  race,  thus  unnecessarily  divided 
against  itself. 

If  this  partition  of  the  continent  could  be  obliterated, 
and  all  North  America  come  under  the  folds  of  one  flag, 


126  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   nCKERIXG. 

the  glory  and  beneficence  of  the  Great  Republic  of  the 
New  World  would  be  complete.  With  no  boundary 
line  to  guard,  and  all  interior  revenue  expenses  on  both 
sides  extinguished  ;  with  no  armaments  on  lake  or  river, 
no  citadels,  fortresses,  garrisons,  or  custom-houses  to  be 
maintained  ;  every  impediment  of  intercourse,  traffic, 
and  combined  enterprise  removed  ;  one  uniform  cur- 
rency and  postal  system,  —  what  a  spectacle  of  social 
prosperity  would  be  presented  to  mankind  !  The  bur- 
dens of  o^overnment  would  be  almost  whollv  thrown^ 
off;  and  perpetual  peace,  among  ourselves  and  with 
other  nations,  the  crowning  result.  Domestic  admin- 
istration and  foreign  relations  would  at  once  be  reduced 
to  simplicity,  without  any  permanent  obstruction  or 
liability   to  be   disturbed. 

This  consummation  must  at  last  be  reached  ;  and 
whatever  has  tended  to  prevent  and  delay  it  will,  more 
and  more,  as  the  happy  era  approaches,  be  regarded  as 
a  great  public  and  national  calamity,  and  condemned  as 
such  by  all  statesmen  and  philanthropists.  The  policy 
of  the  Revolutionary  governments,  in  the  wholesale  and 
violent  expatriation  of  their  own  people,  during  the  War 
of  Independence,  thus  imparting  life  and  strength  to  a 
foreign  power,  extending  all  along  the  northern  and 
eastern  borders  of  the  United  States,  and  infusing 
into  it  a  spirit  of  alienation  and  resentment,  will  be 
regarded  in  its  just  light,  as  most  unwise,  shortsighted, 
and  pernicious. 

Colonel  Pickering  condemned,  from  the  beginning 
to  the  end,  the  extent  to  which  this  policy  was  carried  ; 
the  sw^eeping  confiscation  of  estates,  the  violent  treat- 
ment of  persons  called   Tories,  and   all   the  angry  and 


LIEE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  127 

bitter  passions  that  led  to  such  measures  and  proceed- 
ings. As  his  service  during  the  war  was  wholly  outside 
of  legislative  halls,  his  views  on  the  subject  can  only  be 
found  in  looking  over  his  private  correspondence,  from 
which  it  appears  that  he  did  all  in  his  power  to  allay 
the  animosities  of  the  contest,  and  took  constant  pains 
to  preserve  the  relations  of  personal  friendship  with 
those  taking  opposite  sides.  One  document,  however, 
has  been  preserved  among  his  papers  which  presents 
his  sentiments  so  fully,  and  in  a  style  so  characteristic, 
that  it  will  be  here  given  in  full. 

During  his  whole  life  an  earnest  and  anxious  solici- 
tude for  the  welfare  and  honor  of  the  country  prompted 
him  to  take  up  his  pen,  not  only  in  correspondence 
with  prominent  persons,  but  in  communications  to  the 
public  press.  Many  of  his  ablest  and  most  elaborate 
productions  of  the  latter  description  were  anonymous, 
and  their  authorship  at  the  time  unknown,  but  are  iden- 
tified by  the  handwriting  and  otherwise.  In  the  vast 
mass  of  his  manuscripts  is  one  signed  "  Spectator,"  dated 
August  8th,  1784,  and  directed  "to  the  Printer  of  the 
New  York  Packet." 

The  circumstances  that  led  him  to  compose  and  pub- 
lish this  article  were  as  follows.  At  the  close  of  the 
war,  the  head-quarters  of  his  department  —  which,  as 
has  been  stated,  continued  in  operation  for  some  years 
—  were  at  Xewburgh.  They  were  removed  for  a  while, 
after  the  evacuation  of  New  York,  to  that  city  ;  and,  at  its 
final  winding  up,  were  at  Philadelphia.  An  association 
had  been  formed  in  New  York,  called  the  "  Whig 
Society,"  of  which,  during  his  temporary  residence  in 
that  city.  Colonel  Pickering  was  elected  a  member.     Its 


128  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKEKING. 

meetings  were  held  every  Monday  evening.  The  term 
"  Whig "  had  then  no  such  import  as  in  subsequent 
party  poHtics.  It  embraced  the  whole  people  of  the 
country  who  had  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Revolution, 
and  was  used  in  contradistinction  to  "  Tory,"  applied 
to  all  who  had  sympathized  with  the  mother  country. 
The  design  of  the  society,  probably,  was  to  keep  alive 
the  patriotic  enthusiasm,  in  a  civic  form,  after  the  mil- 
itary conflict  was  over,  and  to  discuss,  in  that  spirit,  all 
public  measures  and  questions,  as  they  might  rise  from 
time  to  time.  It  was  based  upon  a  written  agreement, 
signed  by  the  members  who  formed  it,  in  which  they 
set  forth  their  object  to  be  "  the  advancement  of  liter- 
ature, agriculture,  manufactures,  and  commerce.''  It 
was  laid  dow^n,  how^ever,  as  a  fundamental  rule  that 
"  no  person  shall  be  admitted  a  member  who  had  not 
supported  a  decided  and  unequivocal  character,  as  a 
steady  patriot,  throughout  the  controversy  between 
these  United   States  and  Great  Britain." 

The  existence  of  such  a  society  was  a  natural  effect 
of  the  conflict  by  w^hich  the  country  had  just  been  con- 
vulsed, and  of  a  sense  of  the  new  and  momentous  career 
upon  which  the  American  Republic  had  entered,  when 
clothed  with  sovereign  power  and  entire  national  inde- 
pendence. A  profound,  even  morbid,  interest  pervaded 
the  popular  mind,  on  all  yjublic,  especially  political, 
questions.  It  w^as  everywhere  felt  that  the  country  had 
embarked  on  an  untraversed  and  unknow^n  sea.  Hence 
arose  earnest  discussions  of  all  topics  relating  to  the  gen- 
eral weal ;  and  every  conceivable  theory  and  scheme 
of  administration  was  freely  broached  and  vehemently 
urged.       In    the  mean  while,  a  nervous  apprehension 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  129 

prevailed — as  shown  in  the  "fundamental  rule"  of  the 
Whig  Society,  and  appearing  in  others  of  its  regula- 
tions —  of  a  danger  since  found  to  be  entirely  fanciful. 
Public  enemies,  or  foreign  powers,  getting  possession  of 
the  government  was  one  of  the  bugbears  of  the  day. 
This  feeling  was  wide-spread,  shaped  the  policy  of 
parties,  and  was  not  without  so  far  controlling  the  gen- 
eral mind  as  to  leave  its  impression  on  some  features 
of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  It  was  par- 
ticularly prevalent  in  New  York. 

From  an  early  period  of  the  war  that  city  had  been 
in  the  undisturbed  possession  of  the  British,  the  Royal 
head- quarters  in  America,  and  the  great  point  of  com- 
munication between  all  the  dominions  of  that  crown  on 
this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  Large  armies  and  fleets  had  been 
constantly  stationed  there.  Great  activity  and  pros- 
perity accrued  to  its  commerce  and  industry  in  every 
form.  It  followed,  as  a  matter  of  course,  indeed  neces- 
sarily, that  its  business  interests  were  to  a  great  extent 
brought  into  attachment  to  that  side  in  the  prolonged  con- 
test. Those  Whigs  whose  patriotic  sensibilities  could 
not  brook  acquiescence  in  E,oyal  rule  left  the  place,  as 
they  could  get  away,  from  time  to  time.  But  there 
were  manv,  undoubtedly,  whose  hearts  were  with  the 
Revolutionary  cause,  to  whom  removal  would  have  been 
ruinous,  or  attended  wdth  extreme  difficulties,  or  abso- 
lutely impossible,  and  who  remained  in  reluctant  silence. 
The  bulk  of  active  inhabitants  became,  or  had  to  appear 
to  be,  friends  of  the  mother  country. 

When  the  war  terminated,  great  numbers  of  those 
who  had  prominently  espoused  the  Loyal  cause,  em- 
barked with  the  evacuating  British  forces,  many  of  them, 

Vol  II.  9 


130  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

like  the  De  Lanceys,  Bayards,  and  Eobinsons,  going  to 
Nova  Scotia  and  New  Brunswick,  and  contributing  to 
build  up  those  Provinces.  A  large  portion  of  the  pop- 
ulation, however,  remained.  Those  Whigs,  who  had 
for  long  years  suffered  in  silence  under,  to  them,  an 
odious  military  rule  in  the  city  and  its  neighborhood, 
at  once  avowed  themselves  and  rejoiced  in  their  deliv- 
erance. Such  as  had  found  refuse  elsewhere  came 
back,  and  others  flocked  in  from  various  quarters.  Those 
classes  who  had  sufl'ered  exile  from  their  homes  during: 
the  war,  on  account  of  their  adherence  to  the  popular 
cause,  particularly  such  as  had  been  fighting  for  liberty 
and  independence,  on  their  return  felt  more  or  less  irri- 
tation and  resentment  towards  persons  who  had  remained 
in  the  city,  many  of  whom  had  been  enjoying  profitable 
and  intimate  relations  with  the  defeated  enemies  of  the 
country. 

This  feeling  went  so  far,  that  it  was  proposed  to  expel 
by  law  from  the  country  all  who  were  obnoxious  to  the 
charge  of  not  having  espoused  or  sympathized  with  the 
Patriotic  party,  during  the  war.  The  execution  of  such 
a  policy,  after  peace  had  been  fully  established,  would 
have  been  truly  barbarous,  most  injurious  to  the  interests, 
and  fatal  to  the  honor,  of  the  country  throughout  the 
civilized  world  in  all  future  time.  But  the  passions 
of  the  people  ran  so  strong  in  that  direction,  that  it  re- 
quired all  the  exertions  of  wise  and  enlightened  leading 
men  to  stem  the  tide  and  avert  the  measure.  At  this 
crisis  Alexander  Hamilton  came  out,  with  all  the  power 
of  eloquence  and  remonstrance,  in  his  celebrated  Public 
Letters  signed  "  Phocion,"  among  the  ablest  of  the 
writings  of  that  great  lawyer  and  statesman. 


LIFE   OF    TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  131 

The  meditated  outrage  shocked  the  judgment  and 
sentiments  of  Timothy  Pickering.  Residing  at  the 
time  in  New  York  he  witnessed  the  fanatical  violence  of 
the  popular  passions,  and  having  been  a  member  of  the 
"  Whig  Society,"  probably  felt  particularly  called  upon 
to  utter  his  protest ;  and  the  following  paper  was  the 
result. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  find,  in  the  whole  range  of 
political  controversy,  a  more  forcible  argument  or  a 
nobler  outburst  of  patriotic  feiTor.  It  bears  through- 
out the  impress  of  his  style,  in  diction  and  thought,  — 
plain,  condensed,  energetic,  and  bold.  It  is  an  honor- 
able monument  of  his  abilitv,  liberalitv.  and  wisdom.  It 
is  given  entire,  as  an  important  item  in  the  public  his- 
tory of  the  country,  and  in  the  biography  of  its  author. 

The  passage  printed  in  Italics,  in  the  first  paragraph, 
shows  how  deeply  he  disapproved  the  course  some  of 
the  States  had  pursued  during  the  war,  in  exiling 
alleged  Tories,  and  how  clearly  he  foresaw  the  perma- 
nent evils  resulting  from  it. 

"  To  the  man  who,  during  our  eight  years'  distressing 
war,  had  suffered  in  the  common  calamities  of  his  country, 
the  day  of  peace  restored  was  a  day  of  jubilee.  And  in  him 
who  had'  no  personal  resentments  to  gratify,  all  the  angry 
passions,  which  are  roused  in  such  tempestuous  seasons,  at 
once  subsided.  To  offer  an  insult  to  a  vanquished  enemy 
appeared  dishonorable.  To  trample  on  their  disappointed  and 
mortified  adherents  evidenced,  not  the  magnanimity  of  free- 
men, but  the  fierce,  unquiet  spirit  of  revenge'.  To  a  man  of 
such  sentiments  the  hasty  and  intemperate  measures  of  the 
too-zealous  Whigs  were  sources  of  extreme  regret.  He  felt 
for  their  honor,  for  his  own,  and  for  the  honor  of  the  na- 
tion. IriBtances  of  such  intemperance  at  first  appeared  in 
most    of  the    States  ;  and^  unfortunately^  continued  too  long 


132  UFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

for  our  interest  and  reputation.  We  ^^w5?/s7i^f?  our  oivn 
shame  ;  and  it  has  been  repid)Ushed  in  Eurojoe  ;  and  impartial 
History  Av ill  hand  it  doivn  to  posterity.  The  false  steps  we 
have  taken  we  cannot  tread  back  again.  The  vestiges  will  re- 
main to  the  most  distant  age.  But  though  we  cannot  wipe 
out  the  stain  from  our  national  character,  yet  it  is  in  our 
power  to  prevent  its  receiving  a  deeper  dye,  by  a  repetition 
or  increase  of  violence  and  outrage. 

"  I  am  led  to  make  these  remarks  by  the  conduct  of  some 
of  the  Whig  citizens  of  your  State.  They  avow  themselves 
to  be  the  only  supporters  of  liberty,  —  the  only  men  of  politi- 
cal integrity  among  you  ;  and  yet,  in  their  measures  with 
the  Tories,  they  would  violate  every  principle  of  liberty  and 
national  faith.  For  this  inconsistency  of  Whigs ;  for  this 
renunciation  of  the  fundamental  principles  of  the  Revolu- 
tion ;  for  this  disregard  to  national  engagements,  —  there  must 
exist  some  powerful  motives  ;  but,  in  the  nature  of  things, 
they  must  be  motives  which  mark  the  subjects  of  them  with 
dishonor.  They  are  motives  which  the  Whigs  would  be 
ashamed  explicitly  to  acknowledge  ;  and  yet  such  alone 
appear  to  their  dispassionate  neighbors  to  regulate  their  con- 
duct. These  motives  are  but  too  evidently  those  of  inter- 
est, ambition,  or  revenge  ;  for  the  suggestion  that  the  few 
Tories  remaining  in  the  State  will  endanger  its  liberties,  by 
their  corrupting  the  body  of  the  people  and  assuming  the 
reins  of  government,  is  manifestly  but  a  pretext  to  cover  the 
operation  of  the  dangerous  passions  now  mentioned. 

'^  But  whose  interest  will  be  promoted  by  the  expulsion 
of  the  Tories?  Will  the  interest  of  the  numerous  farmers 
of  the  State,  who  compose  the  great  body  of  the  people,  be 
advanced  ?  Will  the  produce  of  their  lands  rise  in  value  by 
a  reduction  of  the  numbers  and  wealth  of  purchasers  ?  And 
can  they  buy  foreign  goods  cheaper,  when  the  number  of  im- 
porters shall  be  lessened  ?  Do  your  farmers  and  mechanics 
think  their  great  market,  the  city  of  New  York,  was  formerly 
too  much  crowded  with  inhabitants  ?  After  such  multitudes 
have  left  it,  are  the  citizens  still  too  numerous  ?  Will  the 
mechanics  and  farmers  get  more  for  their  labor  and  produce, 
when   the    demands   for    them   are    still    further   lessened? 


LIFE  OF   TIMOTHY   PICKEEING.  133 

Whose  interests,  then,  will  be  advanced,  if  the  violent  meas- 
ures in  agitation  succeed  ?  I  answer,  the  interest  of  the 
few  Whigs  who  can  exclusively  hold  the  few  lucrative  offices 
in  government ;  and  the  interest  of  that  small  portion  of  the 
whole  people  who  are  merchants  or  traders  in  the  city,  and 
who,  by  obtaining  exclusive  privileges  in  trade,  will  naturally 
enhance  the  prices  of  imported  goods,  and  lower  the  prices 
of  country  produce.  And  thus,  the  interests  of  the  com- 
munity at  large  are  to  be  sacrificed  to  the  emoluments  of  a 
few.  The  men  whom  the  legislature  are  urged  to  expel 
are  confessedly  those  who  can  import  foreign  goods  to  most 
advantage,  and  consequently  afford  to  sell  them  cheapest,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  their  extensive  demands  must  raise  the 
price  of  country  produce.  That  competition  in  sales  and 
purchases,  which  alone  can  render  foreign  goods  cheap,  and 
raise  the  value  of  the  native  commodities,  the  warm  Whigs 
are  imprudently  striving  to  remove. 

''  From  ambition  none  of  the  sons  of  Adam  are  exempt. 
That  it  influences  the  measures  in  question  cannot  be 
doubted.  The  history  of  all  the  revolutions  in  the  world 
are,  for  the  most  part,  but  records  of  the  turbulent  ambition 
of  the  leaders  of  parties.  On  one  side,  they  assume  the 
name  of  Patriots ;  but,  haA^ing  succeeded,  their  first  acts  of 
government  have  been  stained  by  an  insulting  exertion  of 
power,  and  by  every  mark  of  vengeful  oppression.  The  Revo- 
lution in  America,  it  was  hoped,  would  exhibit  a  different 
example  to  mankind.  The  justice  of  our  cause,  and  the 
magnanimity  with  which  we  maintained  it,  placed  us  in  the 
foremost  rank  of  fame.  Our  conduct  excited  the  admiration, 
and  procured  us  the  esteem,  of  Europe.  But  our  glory  is 
faded,  our  credit  is  sunk,  and  there  needs  but  the  addition 
of  perfidy,  the  breach  of  national  faith,  to  complete  our  career 
of  infamy. 

••'  Who  A-isits  your  city  and  hears  the  speeches,  who  reads 
the  publications  of  the  warm  Whigs,  without  seeing  and 
lamenting  how  much  they  are  agitated  and  inflamed  by  the 
unsocial  passions  of  envy  and  revenge  ?  Many  good  men  are 
unhappily  subject  to  this  fatal  influence.  That  generosity 
which,  in  the  late  contest,  was  the  pecuhar  boast  of  Wliigs 


134  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

is  now  discarded.  After  viewing,  with  just  abhorrence  and 
indignation,  the  proud  disdain,  the  insulting  triumphs,  of 
Britons  over  their  unfortunate  American  captives,  —  now  that 
our  enemies  are  vanquished  ;  when  Britain  is  humhled  ;  when 
her  most  numerous  bigoted  adherents  are  exiled ;  and  when 
the  residue  are  submissive  to  our  power,  —  we  disdainfully 
and  insultingly  triumph  in  our  turn  ! 

"  But,  Sir,  the  violent  Whigs  in  your  city  are  not  to  cast 
the  die  for  United  America.  The  national  interest  and  honor 
are  not  committed  to  their  hands.  If  their  fatal  influence  in 
your  public  councils  should  disgrace  your  State,  and  cause 
the  memory  of  the  present  legislature  to  be  handed  down  to 
posterity  with  reproach,  yet  the  great  interests  of  the  other 
States  in  the  Union  will  prevent  their  acquiescing  in  such 
destructive  measures. 

"  The  breach  on  one  side  of  a  single  article  of  the  Treaty  of 
Peace  gives  a  right  to  the  other  party  to  annul  the  whole. 
Britain  stipulated  for  the  protection  of  a  certain  class  of  men, 
some  of  Avhom  were  their  adherents,  and  others  merely  resided 
within  those  parts  of  the  United  States  which  were  under  the 
power  of  the  British  arms.  The  United  States  have  solemnly 
promised  that  protection.  In  entering  into  the  Treaty,  they 
have  pledged  the  faith  of  the  nation  that  no  persoji  should 
suffer  any  future  loss  or  damage^  either  in  his  person^  liberty^ 
or  i^roferty^  on  account  of  the  fart  he  may  have  taken  in  the 
war.  By  the  same  treaty,  the  fisheries,  — those  great  nurs- 
eries of  seamen  and  sources  of  wealth,  —  and  an  amazing 
addition  of  territory,  are  secured  to  the  United  States.  Now, 
is  it  imagined  that  the  States  of  New  England  in  particu- 
lar, to  whom  the  fisheries  are  essential ;  Avithout  which  they 
cannot  pay  for  the  foreign  goods  which  their  necessities 
demand,  nor  even  for  the  bread  which  some  of  them  must 
receive  from  the  Middle  States,  —  is  it  imagined,  I  ask,  that 
the  States  of  New  England  will  sit  still,  regardless  of  the  vio- 
lence of  a  sister  State,  whose  palpable  infraction  of  the  Treaty 
shall  provoke  Great  Britain  to  drive  their  fishing  vessels  from 
the  banks  ?  Will  they  tamely  acquiesce  in  outrages  which 
shall  thus  rob  them  of  that  rich  inheritance  ?  Will  such 
a  breach  of  the  public  faith  be  submitted  to  by  those  other 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  135 

States  who  derive  particular  accessions  of  land  from  the 
Treaty  ?  Will  the  United  States,  who  acquire  such  immense 
additions  of  territory,  the  rich  fur  trade,  the  navigation  of  the 
great  river  Mississippi  and  of  the  lakes, — will  they  suffer  these 
unbounded  prospects  of  wealth  and  population  to  be  defeated 
by  a  single  State  ?  and,  with  these  great  interests,  yield  up 
their  faith  and  honor  as  a  nation  ?  Will  they  suffer  a  breach 
of  the  Treaty,  and  hazard  another  Indian  war,  —  a  war  so 
easy  to  be  excited  by  our  British  neighbors,  by  which  the 
settlement  of  the  new  countries  will  be  prevented  and  the 
former  settlements  laid  waste  ?  And  for  what  must  these 
sacrifices  be  made  ?  To  advance  the  interest  of  a  sinorle 
State  ?  •  No  ;  a  breach  of  the  Treaty  will  peculiarly  injure 
Kew  York.  The  British  are  still  in  possession  of  the  frontier 
posts  and  of  the  fur  trade  ;  and  certainly  will  not  yield  them 
up  after  the  State  shall  have  oj^enly  violated  the  Treaty  of 
Peace.  For  what  then  do  we  run  such  hazards  ?  To  please 
a  handful  of  intemperate  Whigs  ;  to  advance  the  interests  and 
ambitious  views  of  some,  and  to  gratify  the  resentments  of 
all,  against  a  handful  of  Tories.  A  noble  cause,  truly,  for 
setting  an  empire  in  a  flame  I 

''  But  there  are  men  among  the  warmest  Whigs  whom  once 
I  knew,  whom  once  I  honored,  and  whom  I  yet  esteem :  I 
regret  their  mistaken  zeal.  They  have  done  much.  They 
have  suffered  much.  They  have  received  provocations.  They 
have  sustained  injuries.  They  have  acted  and  borne  these 
things  with  fortitude  and  perseverance  ;  and  their  country 
and  the  world  have  given  them  the  due  tribute  of  applause. 
And  shall  these  men,  in  one  desperate  moment  of  revenge, 
blast  their  own  laurels  ?  Forbid  it,  Virtue  !  Forbid  it. 
Heaven !  The}'  pride  themselves  (and  the  pride  is  just)  in 
the  name  of  WJiigs.  But  is  it  a  leading  principle  of  Whiggism 
never  to  forgive  ?  Is  generosity  a  virtue ;  and  shall  Whigs 
spurn  it  from  them  ?  They  profess  a  reverence  for  religion  ; 
but  if  they  never /or^iVe,  do  they  hope  to  he  forgiven?  In 
which  of  these  characters  would  they  Avish  their  memories  to 
be  transmitted  to  posterity  ?  As  merciless  and  revengeful^  or 
3iS  generous  and  humane  ?  Surely  in  the  latter.  For  God's 
sake,  then,  let  them  show  some  reverence  for  an  exalted  pre- 


136  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

cept  of  religion  and  the  noblest  rule  of  morality ;  let  them 
not  dishonor  tlie  cause  of  patriotism  ;  let  them  not,  by  a  sin- 
gle action,  stain  a  life  of  glory ;  rather  let  them  voluntarily 
renounce  those  measures  which  must  ultimately  be  unsuccess- 
ful ;  which  the  neighboring  States  will  never  suffer  to  be  exe- 
cuted with  impunity  ;  which  the  faith  of  the  United  States 
is  pledged  to  prevent ;  and  which,  if  not  prevented,  would 
despoil  us  of  our  dearest  interests,  —  of  our  fame,  of  our 
credit,  of  our  fisheries,  of  the  fur  trade,  and  of  our  immense 
acquired  territory. 

''  I  will  not  trouble  you.  Sir,  with  a  single  observation  on 
the  construction  of  the  Treaty.  It  is  intelligible  to  all  men 
who,  instead  of  hunting  for  evasions,  search  for  its  true  mean- 
ing. But  if  it  were  obscure  (and  the  advocates  for  expelling 
the  Tories  have  attempted  to  find  or  throw  mists  about  it), 
the  reasonings  and  illustrations  of  '  Phocion  '  have  placed  it  in 
so  conspicuous  a  point  of  light,  that  he  must  be  blinded  by 
interest  or  passion,  who  does  not  see  that  the  perfect  security 
of  the  unprosecuted  Tories  was  intended.  If  '  Phocion's '  rea- 
soning be  fallacious,  why  have  not  his  opponents  detected  his 
sophistry  ?  If  their  cause  be  the  cause  of  truth  and  justice, 
why  has  it  not  been  supported  ?  Have  truth  and  justice  not 
one  advocate  who  can  write  ?  The  supporters  of  truth  have 
infinitely  the  advantage  over  error  and  deceit.  And  yet, 
while  '  Phocion's '  letters  please  and  convince,  the  writings 
of  his  opponents  scarcely  offer  the  semblance  of  argument. 
The  performances  of  the  latter  will  never  be  reviewed.  Like 
insects  in  summer,  they  scarcely  live  out  the  day ;  but 
'  Phocion's '  letters  will  be  read  by  posterity. 

"  Spectator." 

The  arguments  of  "  Phocion,"  "  Spectator,"  and  others 
made  it  so  clear  that  the  expulsion  of  persons  from  the 
country  by  law,  after  the  war^  on  the  imputation  of 
their  having  been  Tories,  would  be  an  infraction  of  the 
Treaty  of  Peace,  that  it  had  to  be  abandoned ;  but  the 
infatuated  advocates  of  the  measure  shifted  their  position 
to  one  equally  indefensible,  substituting  a  proposal  which. 


LIFE   OF   TIJIOTHY  PICKERING.  137 

if  carried  out,  would  have  been,  if  possible,  more  bar- 
barous, disgraceful,  and  dangerous.  It  was  thus  effect- 
ually exposed  by  "  Phocion  "  in  the  conclusion  of  his  last 
"  Letter." 

"  Since  writing  the  foregoing,  I  have  learned  that  a  bill  is 
depending  before  the  House  of  Assembly  for  putting  various 
descriptions  of  persons  out  of  the  protection  of  government. 
I  have  too  much  respect  for  the  wisdom  and  virtue  of  that 
body  to  suppose  a  measure  of  this  nature  can  obtain  the  sanc- 
tion of  the  majority.  What  is  the  plain  language  of  the  pro- 
posal? There  are  certain  persons  who  are  obnoxious  to 
public  resentment.  The  Treaty  forbids  us  to  proceed  against 
them  in  a  legal  way.  Let  us,  therefore,  by  an  unconstitu- 
tional exertion  of  power,  evade  the  Treaty,  however  danger- 
ous the  precedent  to  the  liberty  of  the  subject,  and  however 
derogatory  to  the  honor  of  the  nation.  By  the  Treaty  we 
stipulate  that  no  person  or  persojis  shall  suffer^  on  account 
of  the  part  they  may  have  taken  in  the  war,  any  damage  to 
person,  liberty,  or  property  ;  and  yet,  by  taking  away  the  pro- 
tection of  government,  which  they  would  enjoy  under  the 
subsisting  laws,  we  leave  them  to  suffer  whatever  injury  to 
either,  the  rashness  of  individuals  who  are  the  subjects  of  the 
State  may  think  proper  to  mflict. 

f  "J?he  scheme  of  putting  men  out  of  the  protection  of  the 
law  is  calculated  to  transfer  the  sceptre  from  the  hands  of 
government  to  those  of  individuals ;  it  is  to  arm  one  part  of 
the  community  against  another  ;  it  is  to  enact  a  civil  war.  If, 
unhappily  for  the  State,  this  plan  could  succeed,  no  man  can 
foresee  the  end  of  it.  But  the  guardians  of  the  rights  of  the 
community  will  certainly,  on  mature  deliberation,  reject  it. 

"  Feeling  for  the  honor  of  the  State,  if  expulsions  must  take 
place,  if  the  Constitution  and  the  faith  of  the  United  States 
must  be  sacrificed  to  a  supposed  political  expedience,  I  had 
much  rather  see  an  open  avowal  of  the  principles  upon  which 
we  acted,  than  that  we  should  clothe  the  design  \\  ith  a  veil 
of  artifice  and  disguise,  too  thin  not  to  be  penetrated  by  the 
most  ordinary  eye. 


138  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

"  If  we  set  out  with  justice,  moderation,  liberality,  and  a 
scrupulous  regard  to  the  Constitution,  the  government  will 
acquire  a  spirit  and  tone  productive  of  permanent  blessings  to 
the  community.  If,  on  the  contrary,  the  public  councils  are 
guided  by  Inimor,  passion,  and  prejudice  ;  if,  from  resentment 
to  individuals,  or  a  dread  of  partial  inconveniences,  the  Con- 
stitution is  slighted  or  explained  away  upon  every  frivolous 
pretext,  the  future  spirit  of  government  will  be  feeble,  dis- 
tracted, and  arbitrar3^  The  rights  of  the  subject  will  be  the 
sport  of  every  party  vicissitude.  There  will  be  no  settled 
rule  of  conduct,  but  every  thing  will  fluctuate  with  the  alter- 
nate pre  valency  of  contending  factions. 

"  The  world  has  its  eye  upon  America.  The  noble  struggle 
we  have  made  in  the  cause  of  liberty  has  occasioned  a  kind 
of  revolution  in  human  sentiment.  The  influence  of  our 
example  has  penetrated  the  gloomy  regions  of  despotism,  and 
has  pointed  the  way  to  inquiries  which  may  shake  it  to  its 
deepest  foundations.  / 

''  To  ripen  intfuiry  into  action,  it  remains  for  ns  to  justify 
the  Revolution  by  its  fruits. 

"  Let  those  in  whose  hands  it  is  placed  pause  for  a  moment, 
and  contemplate,  with  an  eye  of  reverence,  the  vast  trust 
committed  to  them.  Let  them  retire  into  their  own  bosoms, 
and  examine  the  motives  which  there  prevail.  Let  them 
ask  themselves  this  solemn  question  :  Is  the  sacrifice  of  a  few 
mistaken  or  criminal  individuals  an  object  worthy  of  the  shifts 
to  which  we  are  reduced  to  evade  the  Constitution  and  the 
national  enoaoements ? " 


•&"&' 


Before  Hamilton's  essays,  signed  "  Phocion,"  had  ap- 
peared, or  Pickering  had  written  "  Spectator,"  —  before 
the  British  had  evacuated  New  York,  —  the  latter  was 
in  the  habit  of  maintaining  the  same  views  in  warm  dis- 
cussions with  his  brother-officers. 

A  passage,  in  a  letter  to  his  brother  of  vSeptember 
9th,  1783,  quoted  in  the  previous  volume  (chap,  xxxiii. 
p.  478),  denouncing  "  the  madness  of  the  violent  Whigs 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  139 

in  driving  Tories  from  the  country,  to  its  great  injury, 
and  the  no  small  emolument  of  the  British,  who  will 
get  Nova  Scotia  well-peopled,"  shows  how  he  talked 
with  his  friends  on  the  suhject,  and  proves  that  he 
appreciated  the  ultimate  effects  it  w^ould  have,  enlarging 
the  power  and  invigorating  the  growth  of  the  British 
colonial  empire,  on  the  eastern  and  northern  border  of 
the  United  States. 

It  is  well  known  that  Patrick  Henry  advocated  a 
similar  benignant  policy  towards  Tories,  with  all  the 
power  of  his  wonderful  eloquence,  in  the  Virginia  House 
of  Delegates.  In  the  course  of  his  speech,  he  said 
that  "  the  personal  feelings  of  a  politician  ought  not  to 
be  permitted  to  enter  these  walls.  The  question  is  a 
national  one.  If  you  would  act  wisely,  nothing  should 
be  regarded  but  the  interest  of  the  nation."  In  reference 
to  fears  of  any  mischiefs  from  Tories,  if  permitted  to  re- 
turn, he  said,  "  Afraid  of  them  f  What,  Sir,  shall  we^ 
who  have  laid  the  proud  British  Lion  at  our  feet,  now 
be  afraid  of  his  whelps  f  " 

Hamilton  and  Pickering  were  bound  together  through 
life  by  the  strongest  ties  of  personal  and  political  friend- 
ship. They  stood  side  by  side  in  the  camp  and  in  the 
Cabinet  of  Washington.  They  share  with  Henry  the 
glory  of  having,  by  their  united  efforts,  endeavored  to 
save  the  country  from  the  prevalence  of  a  policy  fraught 
with  injury  to  its  best  and  permanent  interests,  and  dis- 
honor to  its  name. 


1  10  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 


CHAPTER   V. 

Colonel  Pickering  a  Merchant  in  Philadelphia.  —  Prize  Agent. — 
Private-armed  Navy  of  the  Revolution.  —  Society  in  Phila- 
delphia.—  Colonel  Pickering's  Enjoyment  of  it.  —  His  Wife; 
her  Character.  —  His  Views  on  Education.  —  Family  Corre- 
spondence. 

1785,  1786. 

In  the  course  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  espe- 
cially as,  from  time  to  time,  it  seemed  to  be  approach- 
ing its  close,  the  thoughts  of  Colonel  Pickering  were 
much  exercised  as  to  the  pursuits  in  which  it  would  be 
best  for  him  to  engage  when  restored  to  civil  life.  The 
preponderance  of  considerations  seemed  to  be  in  favor 
of  some  form  of  commercial  business.  Although  with- 
out personal  experience  in  mercantile  operations  and 
accounts,  the  general  tendencies  in  that  direction  of  his 
relatives  and  connections  in  his  native  place,  his  habits 
of  accuracy  and  thoroughness  in  practical  affairs  and 
transactions,  and  the  extent  to  which  his  duties  as 
Quartermaster-General  had  given  him  experience  in 
purchases  of  all  sorts,  on  a  large  scale,  for  army  sup- 
plies, combined  in  determining  his  choice.  During  the 
war,  particularly  in  its  latter  years,  he  had  been  led  to 
provide  for  the  residence  of  his  family  in  Philadelphia 
or  its  vicinity,  wbere  they  had  found  their  principal 
home,  and  were  living,  at  the  restoration  of  peace,  in 
circumstances  and  social  relations  to  which  they  had 
become  accustomed  and  attached.  Having  concluded 
to  enter  upon  a  mercantile  occupation,  the  question 
arose  as  to  the  place  in  which  to  establish  himself.  To 
remain    in     Philadelphia    was    more    convenient    and 


t 

LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  141 

agreeable  to  himself  and  family,  than  to  move  to  any 
other  mart.  Although,  in  the  judgment  of  some,  BaUi- 
more  was  considered  preferable,  his  repugnance  to  the 
institution  of  slavery,  and  his  settled  determination 
never  to  employ  slave  labor,  were  an  insurmountable 
obstacle.  It  was  concluded  that  his  connections  in  the 
Eastern  States  would  give  him  an  advantage  in  estab- 
lishing an  extensive  trade  operating  from  Philadelphia, 
and  his  mind  was  accordingly  made  up  in  favor  of  that 
locality. 

He  formed  a  partnership  in  business  with  Major 
Samuel  Hodgdon,  long  a  confidential  friend,  who  for 
some  years  had  served  as  one  of  his  deputies,  and  as 
Commissary-General,  under  his  authority,  and  in  his 
department.  The  firm  was  regularly  organized  under 
the  name  of  "  Pickering  and  Hodgdon."  He  entered 
this  field  with  his  accustomed  energy  and  activity.  A 
large  correspondence  was  instituted  with  business  men 
in  other  parts  of  the  country,  in  Southern  ports,  and 
especially  in  the  Xew  England  States,  and  his  pros- 
pects, as  a  commission-merchant,  were  favorable.  This 
sphere  of  action,  and  the  routine  of  his  labors,  afford  no 
particular  materials  for  the  biographer.  Besides  the 
usual  occupations  of  ordinary  mercantile  life,  there  were 
two  special  engagements  that  called  for  his  attention, 
and  occasioned  considerable  draughts  upon  his  time. 

Although  the  office  of  Quartermaster-General  had 
been  abolished,  his  own  accounts  in  connection  with  it 
closed,  and  its  business  for  the  most  part  adjusted,  some 
transactions  growing  out  of  it  remained  unsettled.  To 
these  he  was  in  no  sense  a  responsible  party.  They 
were  between  individuals  who  preferred  claims,  and  the 


142  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

government.  But  he  was  naturally  applied  to  for  in- 
formation in  reference  to  them  hy  all  concerned.  His 
manuscripts  show  to  what  an  extent  of  correspondence, 
in  affording  explanation  and  information,  he  was  sub- 
jected, with  persons  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  in  mat- 
ters of  this  sprt.  His  letters,  in  answer  to  inquiries  by 
the  accounting  officers  of  the  Treasury,  State  officials, 
and  private  claimants,  show  that  no  slight  amount  of 
labor  was,  in  this  way,  continued  to  be  brought  upon 
him,  and  for  which  he  had  no  compensation,  while  en- 
gaged in  his  own  mercantile  affairs  in  Philadelphia,  and 
long  afterwards. 

There  was  another  branch  of  business  which,  during 
the  war  and  for  some  time  subsequent,  he  had  to  trans- 
act. Although  it  grew  out  of  a  most  important  and 
efficient  department  of  the  operations  of  the  war,  as 
his  connection  with  it  was  purely  and  exclusively  a 
business  one,  and  in  the  same  line  as  his  occupations  as 
a  merchant,  it  may  most  properly  be  considered  in  this 
chapter  of  his  biography.  At  such  intervals  as  his 
official  duties,  during  the  wai%  required  his  residence 
at  Philadelphia  or  its  neighborhood,  and  as  leisure 
offered,  at  the  solicitation  of  friends  in  the  Eastern 
States,  he  gave  as  much  attention  as  he  could  to  the 
care  of  their  interests  there.  Much  general  business 
was  thus,  from  time  to  time,  thrown  into  his  hands.  In 
this  way  he  was  particularly  led  to  act,  in  many  instances, 
as  agent  for  prize  property.  His  universally  appreciated 
integrity  of  character,  conscientious  fidelity  to  trusts, 
and  prompt  attention  to  correspondence,  naturally  in- 
duced parties  to  consign  such  business  to  him ;  and  he 
was  particularly  well  qualified  to  conduct  it,  from  his 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  143 

experience  and  knowledge,  as  to  the  law  and  methods 
of  procedure  in  matters  of  this  kind,  acquired  while 
Judge  of  Admiralty  in  Massachusetts  in  the  opening 
years  of  the  Revolution.  Vessels  captured  on  the 
Southern  coast  would  seek,  if  possible,  near  ports. 
New  York  was  constantly  in  possession  of  the  British. 
Philadelphia  was  for  much  of  the  time  held  by  the 
Americans  ;  and  prizes  were  sent  in  there,  as  in  all 
respects  the  most  favorable  and  accessible  place  for  the 
disposal  of  them  and  their  cargoes.  As  the  owners 
had  no  established  system  of  agencies,  and  communica- 
tion was  difficult,  and  as  Colonel  Pickering  was  much 
there,  he  was  expected  to  take  care  of  such  property. 
In  this  way  he  was  brought  into  the  business,  which 
continued  to  occupy  him  much,  in  the  final  disposal  of 
prize  vessels  and  goods,  and  the  settlement  of  accounts  re- 
lating to  them,  while  he  was  a  merchant  in  Philadelphia. 

A  brief  account  of  the  extent  and  importance  of  the 
privateer  service  of  the  Eevolution  may  with  propriety 
be  given  in  this  connection.  The  manuscripts  of 
Colonel  Pickering  shed  more  light  upon  it,  perhaps, 
than  can  be  gathered  from  any  other  quarter.  It  is  a 
chapter,  in  the  public  history  of  the  country,  not  yet 
adequately  written,  and,  to  a  very  considerable  extent, 
constitutes  the  naval  war  of  the  Revolution. 

The  United  States  were  necessarily  without  any  mari- 
time force  at  first,  and  for  some  time  after  the  contest 
began.  The  government  of  the  Confederation  was,  from 
its  nature,  destitute  of  the  unity  and  energy  required  in 
organizing  and  managing  a  navy.  The  territories  of 
the  States  of  which  it  was  composed  bordered,  more  or 
less,  on  the  ocean,  and  their  inhabitants  in  the  seaports 


144  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

and  along  the  extended  coast  had  great  commercial 
mterests.  Their  property  was  hirgely  embarked  in  ves- 
sels engaged  in  foreign  voyages,  in  trade  between  the 
Colonies  dependent  upon  transportation  over  the  sea 
from  point  to  point,  and  in  the  fisheries.  They  found 
themselves  suddenly  exposed  to  destruction  in  a  war 
with  tlie  most  powerful  naval  empire  of  the  world,  and 
there  was  but  one  means  of  protection  left  them.  The 
defence  of  all  their  maritime  interests,  and  of  their 
harbors  and  homes,  required  the  people,  by  indepen- 
dent, spontaneous,  and  self-organized  operations,  to  set 
afloat,  as  quickly  as  possible,  a  volunteer  navy.  What- 
ever may  be  said  of  privateering,  under  ordinary  cir- 
cumstances, in  wars  between  civilized  nations,  it  was  an 
absolute  necessity,  on  the  part  of  Americans,  at  that 
time.     It  was  their  only  alternative. 

The  Provincial  Congresses,  or  other  contemporaneous 
colonial  and  local  authorities,  commissioned  cruisers, 
thus  provided  by  the  exertions  and  maintained  at  the 
cost  of  private  parties.  The  result  was  an  aggregate 
naval  force  of  great  magnitude  and  efficiency.  The 
property  captured  from  the  enemy  not  only  remuner- 
ated the  owners  of  the  vessels  and  paid  the  officers  and 
seamen  for  their  gallantry  and  services,  bat  provided 
for  the  wants  of  the  people,  bringing  into  port  articles 
of  necessity  for  general  consumption,  thereby  averting 
from  time  to  time  an  actual  famine  that  would  have 
quickly  brought  the  contest  to  a  close,  and,  what  was  of 
equally  vital  importance,  supplying  the  Revolutionary 
army,  often  in  its  extremest  straits,  with  munitions  of 
war  of  all  sorts.  The  necessities  of  the  times,  and  the 
great  cause   at   stake,  surely  raise  this  volunteer  fleet 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  145 

far  above  the  reproach  cast  upoQ  privateeriDg  ;  and  the 
efl'ects  it  produced  in  deciding  the  conflict  place  it  on 
the  highest  level  of  naval  heroism  and  renown.  It  did, 
indeed,  do  more  than  any  thing  else  to  break  the  power 
of  the  enemy,  by  compelling  the  people  of  the  mother 
country  to  demand  of  their  government  to  come  to  terms 
with  the  rebellious  Colonies.  The  commerce  of  Em;- 
land  reeled  under  the  blows  given  in  all  seas,  and  even 
along  her  own  shores,  by  the  daring,  ever-active,  every- 
where-present American  cruisers. 

Their  prizes  were  adjudicated  upon,  in  accordance  with 
established  forms,  bv  Courts  of  Admiraltv.  and  thev  are 
fully  entitled  to  be  considered  a  regular  and  legitimate 
navy.  Their  achievements  ought,  if  possible,  to  be 
recovered  from  oblivion  and  embodied  in  an  historical 
form,  summing  up  their  work,  illustrating  its  im- 
portance and  extent,  and  giving,  in  detail,  some  of 
the  most  remarkable  incidents  of  stratagem,  battle, 
and  victory.  Some  of  these  private  armed  ships  were 
taken  into  the  Continental  service  as  soon  as  a  res^ular 
navy  was  organized  under  the  authority  of  the  General 
Congress,  and  their  exploits  and  career  are  embraced 
in  our  naval  histories  ;  but  the  far  greater  number  re- 
mained under  the  character  of  privateers,  with  no  higher 
commissions  than  letters  of  marque,  or  their  equivalent. 
Their  story,  which,  if  brought  to  light,  would  be  found 
full  of  romantic  enterprise  and  bravery  and  extraordi- 
nary prowess  and  success,  is  not  yet  written ;  and  can  only, 
at  present,  be  gleaned  from  the  files  of  newspapers  of  the 
period,  and  old  letters  and  accounts.  Colonel  Picker- 
ing's private  correspondence  with  friends  in  Salem  in-  " 
cidentally  sheds   light  on   the   subject ;   and  documents 

Vol.  II.  10 


146  LIFE   OP   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

connected  with  his  transactions  as  prize  agent,  afford  val- 
uable materials  to  any  one  who  may  engage  in  such  a 
work,  as  instances  and  extracts  now  to  be  cited  w'ill  show. 
William  Pickman,  in  a  letter  to  Colonel  Pickering, 
dated  May  17th,  1779,  after  mentioning  the  birth  of  a 
son  on  the  second  of  that  month,  who  became  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  merchants  and  influential  public  men 
of  ^lassachusetts  (the  late  Dudley  L.  Pickman),  and 
touching  on  other  private  matters,  says :  "  Our  markets 
remain  nearly  as  when  I  wrote  you  last,  except  bread, 
which  is  scarce  and  high.  In  March  we  thought  it 
impossible  to  reach  the  next  crops  without  a  famine. 
But  the  danger  of  that  vanishes.  Though  we  are  short, 
we  are  not  destitute  ;  and  I  doubt  not  shall  easily  save 
our  distance."  He  then  goes  on  to  state  that  "  the  brig 
'  Pallas,'  of  fourteen  four  and  three  pounders  and  fifty- 
seven  men,  had  taken  a  letter-of-marque  ship  of  sixteen 
six  and  four  pounders  and  sixty-five  men,  loaded»vvith  flour 
and  dry  goods.  The  brig  had  one  man  killed  and  one 
wounded,  the  ship  five  killed  and  seventeen  wounded." 
In  this  letter  of  Mr.  Pickman,  and  one  of  the  same  date 
from  George  Williams,  a  brother-in-law  of  Colonel 
Pickering,  are  the  names  and  armament  of  private 
armed  vessels,  then  belonging  to  Salem  and  Beverly, 
from  w^hich  a  list,  now  to  be  given,  is  made  out,  without 
counting  the  brig  ''  Pallas,"  whose  gallant  and  timely 
exploit  is  mentioned  by  Mr.  Pickman.  Mr.  Williams 
states  that  all  the  vessels  mentioned,  many  of  which 
were  full-rigged  ships,  had  been  built  expressly  for  the 
service,  in  1778  and  1779.  They  were  constructed  with 
a  light  draught  and  a  special  view  to  fast  sailing.  A 
considerable  number   of    others,  then  just  built,  were 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  147 

waiting  to  be  fitted  out  and  provisioned.  He  says  that 
he  is  part  owner  of  three  of  them,  the  "Black  Prince," 
"  Pickering,"  and  "  Lion." 

With  such  a  fleet  as  this,  well  manned,  with  brave 
and  skilful  officers,  supplied  by  a  single  port,  the  aggre- 
gate efficiency  of  the  privateer  navy  of  all  the  States, 
may  to  some  degree  be  estimated.  It  swept  the  neigh- 
boring and  even  distant  seas,  dealt  destruction  upon 
the  mercantile  marine  of  Great  Britain  evervwhere.  and 
drove  all  the  lighter  ships  of  war  of  the  enemy  from 
the  Atlantic  shores,  bidding  defiance  to  their  deep,  slow- 
sailing,  higher  rates ;  so  that  the  coasting  trade  of 
the  Colonies  was  comparatively  secure.  Mr.  Pickman 
says  that  only  "  one  out  of  thirty  sail  of  West  India- 
men,''  belonging  to  Xewburyport,  failed  to  reach  home 
in  safetv  in  the  winter  of  1778  and  1779. 

In  one  of  the  letters  to  be  presented  in  this  connec- 
tion, it  appears  that  the  enemy  prepared  a  sloop-of-war 
expressly  for  the  purpose  of  coping  with  the  larger  class 
of  these  privateers.  One  of  them  went  out  to  meet  her, 
and,  after  a  gallant  fight,  captured  and  brought  her  into 
port. 

PRIVATEERS  OF  SALEM  AND  BEVERLY,  MOSTLY  OW^NED 

IN  SALEM,  MAY,  1779. 

Pilgrim,  16  guns,  nine  pounders.  H.  Hill,  Captain. 

Black  Prikce.  18  guns,  six  pounders.  N.  West,  „ 

Pickering.  16  guns,  six  pounders.  J.  Haraden,  „ 

Oliver  Cromwell.  16  guns,  six  pounders.  Simmons,  „ 

Harlequin.  18  guns,  four  pounders.  Dennis,  „ 

Hl'nter.  18  guns,  four  pounders.  N.  Browne,  „ 

Franklin.  18  guns,  six  pounders.  Robinson,  „ 

Fame.  14  guns,  four  pounders.  Hobbs,  „ 

Monmouth.  12  guns,  three  &  four  pounders.    J.  Ingersoll, 

Roebuck.  12  guns,  three  pounders.  Gray, 

SwETT,  12  guns,  three  &  four  pounders.   Leach, 

Greyhound.  8  guns,  three  pounders.  Hammond, 

Centipede.  6  guns,  three  pounders.  Pratt, 


» 


148  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

Dolphin.  10  swivels.  Carwick,         Captain. 

Ttgkr.  8  guns,  three  pounders.  N.  Brookhouse,   „ 

Wild  Cat.  12  guns,  four  pounders.  D.  Ropes,  „ 

Macaroni.  14  guns,  four  pounders.  Patterson,  „ 

Lion.  20  guns,  six  &  four  pounders.  ,  „ 

Hector.  26  guns,  six  &  three  pounders.  Jon.  Carnes,        „ 

The  following  letter  from  Jonathan  Haraden,  Com- 
mander of  one  of  the  vessels  above  named,  the  Massa- 
chusetts Provmcial  ship  "  Pickering,"  illustrates  the 
character  of  that  famous  naval  hero,  unsurpassed  for 
courage,  skill,  and  success,  in  the  bold  warfare  of  the 
devolution  on  the  seas.  It  also  shows  the  kind  of 
business  thrown  upon  Colonel  Pickering,  in  the  care 
and  management  of  prize  property  placed  by  friends  in 
his  hands. 

"  Cape  Henlopen,  October  1st.,  1779. 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  'Tis  with  pleasure  I  tell  you  that  I  left  the  Capes  at  sun- 
down on  Tuesday  last,  and  at  sunrising  on  Wednesday  morn- 
ing, I  discovered  two  sails  to  the  windward.  The  winds  being 
light,  I  hove  out  two  drags  to  keep  my  ship  from  going  ahead, 
and  made  all  the  sail  I  could,  as  though  I  was  running  from 
them.  They  both  gave  chase,  and^,  at  five  P.M.,  they  got 
nigh  enough  to  discover  that  I  was  a  cruising  vessel.  They 
both  hove  about,  and  hauled  their  wind.  I  immediately  hove 
about,  after  them.  They  crowded  all  the  sail  they  could,  and 
rowed  at  the  same  time.  At  sundown  the  wind  breezed  up 
a  little,  and,  as  night  came  on,  I  kept  sight  of  them  with  my 
night-glass.  At  eight  p.m.,  they  parted.  One  stood  to  the 
northward,  and  the  other  to  the  southward.  I  kept  in  chase 
of  the  largest,  and,  at  nine  P.M.,  she  hove  about  (being  to  the 
windward).  As  she  passed  me,  I  hailed  her,  but  had  no 
answer.  Then  I  gave  her  a  broadside,  but  without  any  effect 
that  I  could  perceive.  Then  I  tacked  ship,  and  gave  her 
another  broadside  and  hailed  her.  She  answered,  from  New 
York.  I  ordered  her  to  haul  down  the  colors,  wdiich  they 
obeyed  instantly  (very  peaceable  people,  like  the  '  Hope '), 
though  they  had  fourteen  six  and  four  pounders  and  thirty- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  149 

eight  men.  She  proves  to  be  the  '  Rojal  George  '  cutter,  a  let- 
ter of  marque,  out  of  New  York  last  Tuesday  morning,  bound 
to  the  West  Indies,  and  was  in  company  with  a  sloop  of  eight 
carriage  guns  from  the  same  place.  She  being  clean,  and 
a  fast  sailer,  got  off  clear  while  I  was  in  chase  of  the  cutter. 
The  cutter  bears  a  great  name  for  sailing,  but  now  is  very 
foul.  My  being  so  near  the  Capes,  thought  best  to  see  her 
in  safe,  and  put  the  prisoners  on  shore.  I  propose  to  sail 
again  to-day,  if  possible.  The  cutter  I  have  directed  to  your 
care,  and  beg  that  you  would  dispose  of  her  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage,—  have  sent  three  negroes  in  her,  which  you  will 
please  to  sell.  There  is  a  negro  man  on  board  the  '  Confeder- 
acy,' which  was  taken  out  of  the  jail  without  my  knowledge. 
He's  a  servant  of  the  Lieutenant  of  the  '  Pomona.'  If  you 
think  you  can  get  him  again  without  much  trouble  and  ex- 
pense, as  he's  my  property,  should  be  glad  that  you  would, 
and  sell  him  with  the  others.  By  a  paper  on  board  my  ship  I 
find  that  there  are  five  or  six  cannon  in  the  brigantine  '  Hope's  ' 
hold  as  ballast.  I  would  beg  that  you'd  get  Mr.  Cotton  to 
search  for  them,  and,  if  found,  would  have  you  sell  them  also. 
The  Captain  of  the  cutter  says  that  there  were  twenty-five 
sail  of  ships  and  transports  at  the  Hook,  bound  upon  some 
secret  expedition,  supposed  to  the  northward ;  and,  last  Sun- 
day morning,  the}'  were  all  ordered  in  again. 

*'  Sir,  I  have  drawn  an  order  on  you  for  five  hundred  dol- 
lars, for  the  men  that  have  come  up  in  the  cutter,  and  the 
pilot  3  ou  Avill  pay  also.  I  thought  it  more  advantageous  to 
hire  them  here  than  to  send  my  own  men  in  her,  by  reason  of 
their  expenses  in  going  home.  My  compliments  to  your  lady. 
"  I  am.  Sir,  your  humble  servant, 

"  Jonathan  Haeaden. 

"  To  Colonel   Timothy  Pickering,  Philadelphia." 

This  letter  is  particularly  worthy  of  remark,  as  it 
gives  evidence  of  the  chivalrous  courage  and  ingenious 
sagacity  of  Haraden,  which  indeed  characterized  the 
peculiar  naval  service  of  that  time.  It  is  evident  that 
the  enemy  was  of  much  superior  force,  his  two  vessels 


150  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

carrying  six  more  guns.  Yet  the  American  cruiser  took 
infinite  pains  to  get  into  a  fight  with  them,  resorting 
to  ehiborate  stratagem,  and  pursuing  them  in  a  night 
chase  of  four  hours.  By  spreading  all  possible  canvas, 
at  the  same  time  throwing  out  his  drags  astern,  Hara- 
den  made  them  think  that  his  vessel  was  a  slow-sailing 
merchantman  endeavoring  to  escape.  They  were  thus 
entirely  thrown  off  their  guard,  and  confident  of  an 
unresisting  capture.  They  steadily  overhauled,  nearly 
reaching,  him  before  they  discovered  their  mistake. 
Thus  surprised,  they  fell  into  a  panic,  and  put  about. 
Shipping  his  drags,  he,  also,  instantly  put  about.  His 
superior  sailing  qualities  were  then  revealed.  As  he 
gained  upon  them,  instead  of  coming  to  action  with  him, 
as  they  ought,  they  ran  as  for  life,  separated,  and  left  him 
to  choose  his  prize.  The  contempt  and  scarcely  con- 
cealed disappointment  he  felt  at  not  having  had  a  harder 
fight  on  the  occasion  is  an  amusing  instance  of  the  high 
tone  to  which  the  spirit  of  the  contest  had  wrought  up 
the  heroism  of  the  volunteer  navy  of  the  Hevolution. 

In  this  single  cruise  Haraden  captured  more  than  a 
hundred  cannon.  It  appears  by  a  valuable  article  in 
the  "  New-England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Regis- 
ter," vol.  xxvi.,  page  24,  by  Captain  George  Henry 
Preble,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  that  in  this  same 
cruise  the  "Pickering"  had  at  least  nine  engage- 
ments with  ships  of  war,  —  among  them  the  "  Po- 
mona "  and  "  Hope,"  referred  to  in  the  foregoing  let- 
ter,—  some  of  them  of  superior  force,  and  that  she  was 
victorious  in  each  instance.  One  of  these  achievements 
was  quite  extraordinary,  —  the  "  Golden  Eagle,"  of 
much  heavier  armament,  having  struck  to  her,  was  re- 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  151 

captured  by  an  English  ship  of  war,  the  "Achilles,"  which 
put  a  crew  into  her,  under  command  of  a  Lieutenant. 
Not  long  afterwards,  Haraden  fell  in  with  them  in  com- 
pany. He  attacked  them  both,  and,  after  a  fight  of 
several  hours,  drove  off  the  "Achilles,"  and  retook  the 
"  Golden  Eagle,"  with  her  British  prize  crew. 

The  letter  also  sheds  light  upon  the  manner  in  which 
slaves  were  treated  at  that  time,  even  by  those  engaged 
in  a  war  for  liberty.  When  taken  from  the  enemy, 
they  were  regarded  no  otherwise  than  prize  property, 
and  sold  back  into  slavery  as  such.  Haraden  evidently 
had  not  turned  his  thoughts  to  the  subject.  Not  so  with 
Pickering,  It  was  a  subject  he  had  always  had  deep  at 
heart.  His  views  prevented  him  from  settling,  as  he 
often  had  inducements  to  do,  in  States  where  the  institu- 
tion existed.  He  never  would  own  a  slave,  and  refused 
to  avail  himself  of  that  species  of  service  at  all  times, 
except  on  conditions  looking  to  and  securing  the  eman- 
cipation of  the  persqn  employed.  He  often  put  himself 
and  family  to  great  inconvenience  on  this  account.  As 
Prize  Agent,  he  was  undoubtedly  much  embarrassed  in 
dealing  with  this  kind  of  property  ;  but  acting  merely  as 
a  fiictor,  in  connection  with  admiralty  cases,  and  under 
the  then  law  and  usage,  he  had  sometimes  to  discharge 
what  must  have  been  a  very  painful  duty. 

The  following  letter,  given  entire,  besides  other  mat- 
ters, some  of  private  and  others  of  general  interest,  shows 
the  value  of  the  privateer  service,  and  mentions  a  par- 
ticular exploit  that  ought  to  be  rescued  from  oblivion  : — 

"  Salem,  July  4th,  1778. 

''  Dear  Brother, 
"  I  wrote  you  a  letter,  a  few  days  before  the  death  of  our 
father,  by  ^lillet,  in  which  I  informed  you  of  his  being  very 
ill.     I  did  not  imagine,  at  that  time,  he  was  so  near  his  end. 


152  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

I  have  not  wrote  you  before,  since  that  event,  at  which  you 
may  perhaps  wonder  ;  but  brother  Williams  told  me  he  had 
written  to  you,  informins^  3^ou  of  the  loss  of  our  father.  Mil- 
let was  also  dela^^ed  by  some  means  or  other,  so  that  I  knew 
you  would  have  knowledge  of  it  as  soon  as  I  could  inform 
you  by  my  Avriting.  I  have  been  confined  at  home  ever 
since  by  taking  care  of  the  business  of  his  estate.  He  has 
left  a  will  in  which,  after  giving  our  sisters  certain  legacies, 
to  the  amount  of  between  three  and  four  hundred  pounds 
sterling,  he  gives  to  you  one-third  of  his  real  estate.  The 
remainder  of  his  estate  he  has  given  to  me,  out  of  which  I 
am  to  pay  debts,  &c.,  and  to  allow  my  mother  such  a  sum 
annually  for  her  support,  as  we  may  agree  on.  He  has  made 
me  sole  executor.  His  death  I  think  was  very  easy.  He  had 
been  growing  feeble  for  so  long  a  time,  that  the  struggle  with 
death  was  short.  However,  I  am  not  a  judge  in  that  matter, 
for,  through  the  kindness  of  Heaven,  few  deaths  have  called 
on  our  family  to  mourn  as  near  relations,  and  this  is  the  only 
death  which  has  been  in  the  house,  except  sister  Clark's  little 
girl,  since  the  marriage  of  our  father  and  mother. 

"  I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  12th  of  June,  in 
which  you  draw  a  consequence  from  my  accepting  the 
Speaker's  chair,  that  our  father  was  •  better.  I  believe  I 
have  in  a  former  letter  told  you  the  reason,  which  was,  that 
I  had  been  chosen  to  several  important  trusts  Avhich  I  had 
declined,  and  though  I  thought  I  had  reason  enough  still  to 
refuse  any  place  which  would  keep  me  much  from  home,  yet 
others  would  not  be  made  to  believe  but  that  I  could  attend 
after  the  death  of  my  father  as  well  as  members  in  common. 
They  willingly  gave  leave  for  me  to  be  with  him  in  his  last 
moments.  At  the  time  of  election  our  friends  all  expected 
that  our  father's  days  could  be  but  few  more.  Isaac  Perkins 
was  hiied.  by  my  father  for  the  season,  and  is  as  trusty  as  any 
man  who  could  be  hired.  Perhaps,  while  he  lives  Avith  us,  I 
may  be  able  to  attend  the  General  Court,  except  in  hay  time. 

"I  thank  you  for  the  enclosed  papers,  and  for  the  intelli- 
gence you  give  me  in  your  letter.  As  I  have  engaged 
Powers  and  Willis  to  send  you  their  paper,  you  will  see  all 
the  news  worth  mentioning,  that  is,  all  of  a  public  nature, 
and  brother  Williams,  I  believe,  can  and  does  g-ive  all  in  the 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING^  153 

privateering  way.  Several  valuable  prizes  have  been  brought 
in  here  lately ;  many  articles  suitable  for  the  army,  which 
have  chiefly  been  bought  up  by  the  proper  agents  for  that 
purpose,  as  I  am  informed. 

"  Captain  Thompson  has  behaved  nobly,  in  taking  the 
ship  of  twenty  guns  sent  out  to  take  him,  of  which  the  Bos- 
ton papers  will  inform  you  as  soon  as  this  letter. 

''  Your  son,  I  was  going  to  write  little  son,  but  he  is  too 
big  for  that  epithet,  is  brave  and  hearty.  And  our  friends 
are  all,  I  think,  very  well,  except  mother,  who  is  severely  at- 
tacked with  the  rheumatism,  and  has  been  indeed  suffering 
with  it  many  months  past. 

''  The  season  hitherto  has  promised  fair  for  plentiful  har- 
vests ;  very  good  crops  of  hay  are  already  fixed,  as  there  has 
been  no  want  of  rain,  except  for  a  short  time  a  few  weeks 
ago.  At  this  time  the  earth  is  well  watered,  at  least  about 
us.  The  last  and  present  weeks  have  been  very  hot,  and, 
as  there  were  frequent  showers,  the  Indian-corn  has  grown 
amazino'lv. 

"  Many  insects  make  their  appearance  at  this  time,  chiefly 
of  the  worm  kind  ;  such  brown  worms  as,  about  six  years  ago, 
made  their  appearance,  are  now  plenty  in  some  spots.  I 
have  made  inquiries,  and  have  not  yet  heard  of  any  except  in 
this  town.  I  think,  as  their  time  of  life,  at  least  before  they 
undergo  some  mutation  of  form,  is  short,  they  will  not  do 
much  damage.  The}'  were  first  discovered  last  Sabbath, 
which  is  earlier  than  they  appeared  in  1772.  Their  course  is 
from  North  to  South,  or  nearly  so,  as  has  I  believe  been  their 
course  at  every  appearance  of  them  in  times  past. 

"  Brother  Dodge  has  called  a  son,  born  a  few  months 
since,  bv  the  name  of  Pickering^.  Brother  Wino-ate  has  a 
son  lately  born,  whom  he  calls  George.  Dr.  Orne's  son  is 
named  Joseph.  I  think  of  nothing  else  worth  writing,  and 
the  same  may  be  said  of  half  I  have  written. 

"  I  never  had  correspondence  with  the  members  of  Con- 
gress. Some  of  them  I  highly  esteem,  and  they  have  my 
sincere  regard.  Farewell. 

"  John  Pickerikg. 

"T.  Pickering." 


154  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERIXG. 

*'  As  your  last  letter  to  me  was  directed,  it  would  have 
been  considered  hy  the  House  as  a  puljlic  letter  to  them,  but 
addressed  to  me  because  I  am  Speaker,  and  would  have  been 
opened  by  them  it'  it  had  been  delivered  to  any  member,  or 
fell  in  their  way.  So,  direct  to  me,  not  as  Speaker,  unless  it 
is  intended  for  the  House.  — J.  P." 

Among  the  items  of  domestic  interest  in  the  foregoing 
letter,  one  is  particularly  observable.  Colonel  Picker- 
ing's fatlier  was  married  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Colonel 
Joshua  Wingate  of  Hampton,  i\.  H.,  November  21st, 
1728,  and  died  June  7th,  1778.  His  married  life 
covered  forty-nine  years,  six  months,  and  ten  days.  He 
had  two  sons  and  seven  daughters,  all  born  in  the  same 
house,  all  of  wdiom  survived  him,  and  not  a  single 
death,  except  pf  a  little  grandchild,  had  'occurred,  dur- 
ing all  that  period,  within  a  few  months  of  half  a  cen- 
tury, in  that  household  or  beneath  that  roof. 

Colonel  Pickering  occupied,  while  residing  at  this 
epoch  of  his  life  in  Philadelphia,  an  unconspicuous 
tenement,  exemplifying  in  its  aspect,  conditions,  and 
usages,  the  frugality,  industry,  regard  to  neatness  and 
substantial  comfort,  and  the  easy  hospitality,  which  ever 
controlled  his  domestic  arrangements.  Every  thing  in 
his  personal  habits  and  family  order  was  in  harmony 
with  the  plain  simplicity  that  marked  his  methods  of 
transacting  business,  his  public  accounts,  and  his  official 
demeanor;  and  which  in  fact  constituted  the  peculiar 
element  of  his  eminence  in  life,  the  distinguishing  value 
of  his  services  in  the  high  stations  he  occupied,  and 
the  aim  and  charm  of  his  style  as  a  writer,  a  public 
speaker,  and  in   conversation. 

All  the  while  he  was  maintainino-  the  most  deli^^ht- 
ful  and  elevated  social  connections.     Philadelphia  has 


LIFE   OF    TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  155 

ever  been  pre-eminent  for  the  culture  in  science,  litera- 
ture, and  the  arts,  of  its  leading  circles  ;  and  their  influence 
has  pervaded  the  whole  community,  and  given  tone 
to  the  manners  and  spirit  of  the  people.  Colonel  Pick- 
ering was  fully  appreciated  there.  Besides  the  reputa- 
tion he  brought  with  him,  and  the  prominent  part  he 
had  acted  in  the  Revolutionary  crisis,  his  com))any  was 
found  to  be  a  great  acquisition  in  all  associations,  public 
or  private.  His  conversational  powers  were  of  a  high 
order.  As  a  narrator  of  events,  or  a  delineator  of  per- 
sons, he  had  no  superior.  Careful  and  close  observation^ 
and  a  copious  memory  of  details,  qualified  him  to  relate 
with  great  distinctness  whatever  had  occurred  in  the 
varied  scenes  of  his  interesting  experience.  The  habits 
of  simplicity  of  diction  and  expression,  to  which  he  had 
trained  himself  in  the  use  of  language,  produced  their 
legitimate  results  in  his  familiar  speech  and  ordinary 
intercourse  with  friends  and  acquaintances.  He  had 
studied  verv  thorousfhlv  and  minutelv  the  meaningr  and 
force  of  words.  In  lexicography  and  grammar  he  had 
few  equals  even  among  scholars.  Exactness  in  the  use 
of  language  was  combined  with  great  freedom,  ease,  and 
fluency  ;  without  redundance,  exaggeration,  or  extrava- 
gance, his  sentences  were  full  of  energy  and  animation. 
The  stronor  views  he  took  of  men  and  things  verv  often 
led  to  emphatic  and  forcible  expressions,  which  remained 
vivid  in  the  memories  of  those  who  heard  them,  and 
some  have  become  traditional  and  historical.  While  his 
taste  and  his  truthfulness  restrained  him,  upon  principle, 
from  overstatement,  the  earnestness  and  boldness  of  his 
nature  occasionally  oave  the  character  of  vehemence  to 
his  utterances.     This  tendencv  he  endeavored  to  resist. 


156  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY    PICKERING. 

« 

The  waniitli  of  his  temperament  often  occasioned  an 
amusing:  conflict  with  his  rules  of  s^ood  taste.  Dis- 
coursing,  in  a  company  of  friends,  on  the  suhject  of 
rhetorical  delivery,  and  denouncing  too  much  action, 
while  uttering  the  words,  "  I  abhor  gesticulation,"  his 
long  and  muscular  arm  incontinently  and  unconsciously 
swept  a  semicircle  around  him ! 

Colonel  Pickering  always  avoided  one  fault  to  which 
good  talkers  are  much  exposed.  He  never  engrossed 
conversation,  but  sought  that  it  should  be  shared  in  by  all. 
He  drew  others  out,  and  left  room  for  each  one  to  bear  his 
part.  But,  as  a  general  thing,  so  natural,  clear,  distinct, 
and  dramatic  was  his  manner.  —  his  finelv  tuned  voice 
and  expressive  countenance  giving  such  a  pleasing  and 
lively  effect  to  his  instructive  conversation,  —  that  all 
present,  with  one  consent,  were  disposed  to  leave  as 
much  of  the  field  to  him  as  he  could  be  induced  to 
occupy. 

During  Colonel  Pickering's  residence,  as  a  merchant, 
in  Philadelphia,  many  of  the  first  men  of  the  day  were 
his  personal  intimates.  Kichard  Peters  and  Benjamin 
Rush  were  dear  friends  as  well  as  neighbors.  Duvid  Rit- 
tenliouse  and  Tench  Coxe  were  his  constant  associates. 
All  the  leading  persons  and  families  of  that  city,  and 
distinguished  visitors  from  other  parts  of  the  country 
r  and  foreign  lands  sought  his  acquaintance.  He  par- 
/  ticularly  enjoyed  the  society  of  estimable  and  enlightened 
Quakers  who  dwelt  in  the  city  of  Brotherly  Love.  There 
w^ere  many  points  of  attraction  between  them,  in  plain- 
ness of  attire  and  speech,  and  sympathy  on  most  phil- 
anthropic subjects,  particularly  that  of  slavery.  Upon 
the  whole,  this  was    one  of  the   happiest  periods  of  his 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY    PICKERING.  157 

life  ;  and  if  his  business  had  satisfied  his  desires,  or,  in 
other  words  —  for  his  \iews  in  reference  to  property  were 
always  most  moderate,  —  if  it  had  met  the  needs  of  his 
family,  he  would  have  passed  there  an  honored  and 
beneficent  life. 

As  he  became  relieved  from  attention  to  matters  grow- 
ing out  of  public  office  and  the  care  of  property  en- 
trusted to  his  management,  he  spent  the  leisure  allowed 
by  the  intervals  of  business  in  an  active  interest  in  the 
general  advancement  of  society.  Although  he  had  wholly 
withdrawn  to  private  life,  his  usefulness  was  felt  in  various 
extended  spheres.  As  an  early  member  and  Secretary 
of  the  Philadelphia  Society  for  the  Improvement  of 
Agriculture,  his  correspondence  was  large,  reaching  to 
other  States.  The  efficiency  of  that  Society  was  aug- 
mented by  his  labors,  and  its  membership  increased,  in- 
cluding prominent  persons  engaged  in  agriculture,  in 
/all  parts  of  the  country.  The  leading  statesmen  of  the 
day  sought  his  counsels  in  great  public  measures.  The 
founders  of  academies,  cultivators  of  farms,  and  writers 
of  books,  solicited  and  obtained  his  advice.  Tn  this  way 
his  services  to  the  general  welfare,  as  well  as  to  the  par- 
ticular friends  who  sought  them,  were  constant  and 
invaluable.  His  literary  correspondence  was  chiefly  with 
persons  interested  in  education.  He  sought  to  bring 
into  notice  improved  text-books  for  schools,  such  as 
Noah  Webster's  rudimental  and  elementarv  w^orks  on 
spelling,  grammar,  and  reading,  the  marvellous  and  uni- 
versal circulation  of  w^hicli  did  much  to  give  such  re- 
markable uniformity  to  the  use  of  language  throughout 
this  countrv.  He  also  brou2:ht  into  favorable  notice, 
in  the  Middle  and  Southern  States,  Pike's  and  Walsh's 
fjviflir»ietic. 


158  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICIvERINQ. 

During  the  period  of  his  residence  in  Philadelphia,  as 
a  partner  in  husiness  with  Major  Hodgdon,  he  enjoyed 
more  fully,  perhaps,  than  at  any  other  time  of  his  life  the 
comforts  and  pleasures  of  a  settled  home,  of  which  he 
had  been  bereft  since  the  opening  of  the  Kevolutionary 
war.  Soon  after  this,  his  family  w^as  temporarily  broken 
up,  and  when  gathered  again,  his  boys  were  more  or  less 
away,  eitlier  at  school, — during  their  attendance  at 
which  they  resided  with  relatives  and  friends,  —  or  at 
college,  or  in  the  employments  of  mature  life.  But 
now  all  that  he  had  w^ere  with  him,  and  the  circle  was 
complete.  The  company  of  his  "  charming "  niece, 
Lydia  Williams,  shed  light  upon  his  household.  On 
her  return  to  Salem,  the  void  Avas  supplied  by  the 
arrival  of  his  wife's  sister,  whose  presence  contributed, 
for  years  afterwards,  to  the  welfare  and  happiness  of  his 
family.  In  a  letter  to  Judge  Wingate,  dated  at  Phila- 
delphia, May  3d,  1785,  he  says :  — 

"  We  have  an  addition  to  our  famil}^  of  my  wife's  sister. 
She  arrived  here  from  London  on  the  22d  ultimo.  They  had 
not  seen  each  other  since  1765.  All  remembrance  of  each 
other  Avas  lost.  My  wife  recognizes  in  her  sister  the  features 
of  their  mother,  and  by  that  alone  could  fix  the  relation.  I 
esteem  her  as  a  very  worthy  character,  and  am  persuaded  we 
shall  find  her  company  as  agreeable  as,  I  see,  it  will  be  use- 
ful ;  for  she  is  extreme!}^  industrious,  and  so  neat  that  she 
would  please  even  the  most  exact  of  my  sisters.  My  wife 
and  her  sister  resemble  each  other  more  in  their  dispositions 
than  in  their  faces  and  persons.  Miss  White's  countenance  is 
agreeable,  and  her  air  is  vivacious ;  but  her  face  has  been 
injured  by  the  small-pox,  being  much  more  strongly^  marked 
than  my  wife.  She  is  shorter  than  Mrs.  Pickering  by  two 
and  a  half  or  three  inches,  but  not  diminutively  small. 
N.  B. — This  description  of  person  is  particularly  for  the 
information  of  my  sister  Wingate." 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  159 

The  historian,  describing  the  elder  Cato,  says  "  Family 
life  always  formed  with  him  the  central  object  of  exist- 
ence ;  it  was  better,  he  thought,  to  be  a  good  husband 
than  a  great  Senator."  Colonel  Pickering  was  often 
called  the  American  Cato  ;  and  in  no  point  did  he  more 
resemble  his  noble  Roman  prototype  than  in  this.  His 
correspondence  and  other  manuscripts  show  that  he 
never  allowed  any  other  engagements  whatever  to  pre- 
vent a  constant  and  devoted  care  for  his  own  familv. 
While  with  them,  he  spared  no  vigilance  and  labor  in 
providing  for  their  daily  and  ordinary  convenience,  en- 
joyment, and  improvement.  While  absent,  and  involved 
in  the  duties  of  camp,  cabinet,  or  senate,  his  letters  of 
direction  and  instruction  reached  them  constantly  and 
frequently.  His  faithful  and  considerate  guardianship 
descended  to  the  minutest  particulars,  as  well  as  to  the 
highest  lessons  of  morality  and  religion. 

He  was  singularly  happy  in  the  most  important  vol- 
untary relation  that  man  or  woman  can  form.  His  mar- 
ried life  equalled  in  its  felicity  all  that  the  imagination 
can  depict  or  the  heart  desire.  His  wife  was  one  of  the 
most  amiable  and  lovely^  of  women,  —  of  the  sweetest 
disposition  and  most  excellent  judgment.  They  were 
often  separated  by  unavoidable  circumstances,  particu- 
larly during  his  military  service,  and  subsequently 
while  he  was  discharging  high  trusts  in  the  several 
branches  of  the  national  government ;  but  the  letters  that 
passed  between  them  have  been  preserved  in  singular 
fulness.  Many  volumes  containing  them  are  in  the 
sacred  custody  of  their  descendants.  Some  are  mixed 
with  his  miscellaneous  manuscripts.  Those  used  in  this 
biography  have  been  drawn  from  both  sources.     They 


160  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

show  the  entire  confidence  he  always  felt  in  her  good 
sense  and  fidelity  to  every  duty.  He  communicated  to 
her,  as  to  an  enlightened  friend,  all  his  plans,  purposes, 
and  engagements,  and,  in  his  suggestions  as  to  the  over- 
sight of  affairs  and  of  the  family  in  his  absence,  is  seen 
a  constant  and  careful  consideration  of  circumstances 
in  detail  that  prove  his  heart  and  thoughts  to  have  been 
ever  with  her  at  home. 

During  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  this  delicate  young 
woman,  with  her  infant  children,  in  compliance  with  his 
wishes  and  arrangements,  cheerfully  encountered  the 
fatigues  and  perils  of  long  journeys,  the  inconveniences 
of  a  camp,  and  frequent  removals  of  her  residence,  as 
head-quarters  were  changed  ;  and,  after  the  subsequent 
brief  domestic  repose  while  living  at  Philadelphia,  he 
was  led,  as  will  shortly  be  seen,  into  a  wilderness,  she 
heroically  shared  with  him  its  privations,  sufferings,  and 
terrors  ;  acquiescing,  without  a  murmur  or  a  question, 
in  all  the  hardships  thus  brought  upon  her,  and  develop- 
ing a  firmness  and  energy  of  character  equal  to  the  most 
trying  occasions.  She  wholly  subordinated  her  will  and 
judgment  to  his,  thus  acquiring  a  controlling  influence 
over  him  which  it  was  the  happiness  and  pride  of 
his  life  to  recognize.  In  this,  the  legitimate  way,  she 
wielded  the  high  power  her  sex  can  and  ought  to  exer- 
cise. Her  gentle,  and  his  strong  and  resolute,  spirit ; 
her  mildness  of  demeanor  and  manners,  and  his  bold, 
decisive,  and  emphatic  expressions  and  deportment, 
not  only  constituted  a  singularly  remarkable  contrast, 
but  wrought  a  most  beautiful  harmony. 

They  lived  together,  as  man  and  wife,  more  than  fifty- 
two    years.      Their    early    was    a    constant  love.       He 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  161 

treated  her  to  the  last  with  the  same  tender  courtesy 
and  lively  affection  as  when  she  was  a  bride.  His 
letters  to  her  are  ever  warm  and  endearing,  replete 
with  expressions  of  fondness,  and  glowing  with  senti- 
ments of  the  deepest  attachment  and  devotion.  The 
following  will  serve  as  specimens.  Similar  passages  are 
found,  in  all  his  letters  to  her,  in  every  stasre  of  their 
lives.  Writing  from  Philadelphia,  March  7th,  1782,  he 
says : — 

"  I  received,  my  dearest,  your  letter  by  the  return  of 
Black,  the  express.  This  is  the  fourth  from  you.  I  will 
no  more  charge  you  with  inattention,  nor  begin  an  account 
(which  I  threatened)  that  will  surely  be  overbalanced  by 
your  goodness.  ]My  wishes  grow  daily  more  impatient  for 
the  time  to  arrive  when  we  shall  meet,  no  more  to  part ; 
when  distance  of  place  and  the  slow  communications  of 
letters  shall  not  for  a  moment  retard  our  endearing  corre- 
spondence. This  happy  period,  I  hoj^e,  is  not  far  off.  God 
forbid  that  more  than  one  campaign  should  intervene." 

In  another  letter,  dated  Philadelphia,  April  2d,  1782, 
he  savs  :  — 

"I  beg  you,  my  dearest,  not  to  anticipate  any  difficulties 
in  vour  own  iournev  hither.  I  trust  there  will  be  none. 
Surely  I  will  not  leave  you  to  go  alone.  I  will  not  hazard 
another  night  of  watching  to  you,  among  dreary  woods  and 
mountains:  I  will  be  your  companion  and  safeguard.  I  will 
make  the  journey  easy,  and  not  only  easy  but  agreeable.  I 
will  bring  you  on  only  as  fast  as  you  and  our  httle  ones  can 
bear  it.  The  season  then  will  be  delightful.  'Twill  then  be 
Nature's  prime.  The  whole  creation,  animate  and  inanimate, 
will  then  conspire  to  please  you." 

In  the  preceding  volume,  page  393,  a  prayer  is  given, 
composed  by  Colonel  Pickering  for  the  joint  use  of 
himself   and   wife,  communicated  to    her  by  him  in  a 

Vol.  II.  11 


162  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

letter  dated  Sunday  evening,  January  12th,  1783.  Be- 
sides extracts  from  the  letter,  there  printed,  the  following 
are  the  introductory  paragraphs  :  — 

"  By  Avhat  names  of  endearment,  my  dear  Beckey,  shall 
I  address  thee  ?  IMy  faithful  friend  !  My  soft  and  sweet 
companion  !  ^I}^  pride  !  My  present  joy  !  My  future  con- 
solation !  My  fond,  my  affectionate  wife  !  How  shall  I  love 
thee  sufficiently?  How  shall  I  find  words  to  express  that 
love  ?  Dear  art  thou  to  me  as  my  own  life.  More  tenderly 
than  ever  do  I  love  thee.  Faultless  as  I  have  found  thee, 
how  can  I  choose  hut  love  thee  ?  Judge,  then,  how  j^ainful 
is  ni}'  separation  from  thee  !  Business,  indeed,  all  day  ex- 
cludes thee  ;  but  night,  still  night,  all  kind  and  tranquil  as 
thy  gentle  spirit,  restores  thee  to  my  memory  ;  and,  indulg- 
ing reflection,  I  am  overwhelmed  with  tenderness.  But 
why  should  I  disturb  thy  tranquilHty  ?  Why  rouse  all  thy 
sensibilities  ?  Yet  the  tender  disquietudes  of  love  are  not 
unpleasing  ;  you  will  therefore    excuse  me. 

''  I  have  read  over  what  I  have  written.  What  would  a 
stranger  call  it  ?  Would  he  pronounce  it  weakness  ?  or  the 
extravagant  doting  of  a  young  lover  ?  But  what  has  a 
stranger  to  do  with  it  ?  You  alone  are  to  read  it ;  and  you 
will  receive  it  with  all  the  grateful  warmth  of  strong,  invi- 
olable love.  If,  indulging  the  feelings  of  my  own  fond  heart, 
I  fail  not  to  excite  the  like  tenderness  in  yours,  I  shall  be 
doubly  pleased.  Our  happiness,  to  be  complete,  must  be 
mutual.  Live,  then,  my  dear  Beckey  !  Heaven  guard  thy 
health  !  and,  ah,  do  thou  thyself  respect  it !  Let  exercise 
mingle  with  thy  industry.  Thy  tender  frame  will  not  endure 
fatigue.  Heaven  preserve  me  also  I  for  thy  sake,  and  for  the 
sweet  pledges  of  our  mutual  love  !  " 

The  forty-five  years  which  subsequently  passed  over 
their  happy  and  sacred  union,  proved  that  what  he  wrote 
was  not  "  the  extravagant  doting  of  a  young  lover^ 
The  ardor  of  his  affection,  and  his  respect  for  her  vir- 
tues, never  abated. 


LIEE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  163 

She  continued  to  the  close  of  life,  which  occurred 
in  her  seventy-fifth  year,  most  lovely  in  her  bearing  and 
aspect,  her  fair  complexion  still  adorned  with  a  beauti- 
ful bloom.  Her  husband  recorded,  in  a  family  note- 
book, an  account  of  her  illness  and  death,  concluding 
wnth  this  testimony  to  her  worth  :  — 

"  A  spirit  more  gentle,  more  innocent,  more  pure,  never 
perhaps  appeared  in  the  female  form." 

Their  last  separation  was  brief.  She  died  on  the  14th 
of  August,  1828  ;  he  on  the  29th  of  January,  1829. 

While  residing  in  Philadelphia,  at  this  period  of  his 
life,  his  children  were  under  his  own  eye.  Almost 
always  afterwards  they  were  more  or  less  separated. 
He  had,  therefore,  the  opportunity  of  making  the  earli- 
est and  deepest  impressions  on  their  minds  and  char- 
acters ;  and  no  father  ever  improved  it  more  faithfully 
or  effectually.  He  was  the  educator  of  his  family,  and 
either  by  direct  instruction  and  influence,  or,  as  they 
grew  older  and  passed  from  under  his  immediate  over- 
sight, by  letters  to  them,  or  those  having  them  in  charge, 
he  watched  over  their  culture  and  training,  with  con- 
stant vigilance  and  enlightened  care. 

He  sent  his  son  John,  then  a  little  over  nine  years  of 
age,  to  Salem,  with  a  letter  dated,  "•  Philadelphia,  May 
27th,  1786,  as  follows :  — 

"Dear  Brother, 

"  I  am  happy  to  learn  by  my  last  letters  from  Salem,  that 
you  are  so  far  recovered  as  to  go  below.  I  pray  God  that 
your  health  may  be  perfectly  restored. 

''  Believing  it  would  be  a  gratification  to  you  to  see  my 
eldest  son,  —  your  namesake,  —  and  a  pleasure  to  all  the  fam- 


164  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

ily  ;  thinkinc^  also  that  it  would  be  a  service  to  John,  by 
weaning  liini  of  tliat  bashfulness  and  timidity  which  are 
really  a  disadvantage  to  him,  and  that  his  health  wonld  be 
benefited  by  the  voyage  and  short  relaxation  from  study,  I 
was  induced  to  part  with  him  for  a  season.  On  the  same 
grounds  his  mother  also  readily  consented  to  the  measure.  I 
am  under  no  solicitude  about  any  thing  but  his  education, 
which  your  indisposition  will  prevent  your  attending  to.  I 
have  only  to  request  that  he  may  be  sent  to  the  best  school 
in  Salem ;  but  have  no  wish  that  he  should  learn  a  word  of 
Greek  or  Latin.  I  am  confirmed  in  my  opinion,  formed  years 
ago,  that  it  is  of  no  advantage  to  a  boy,  though  intended  for 
a  college  education,  to  learn  any  dead  language,  till  he  is 
eleven  or  twelve  years  old.  But  he  may  learn  to  read  well ; 
to  write  a.  fair  hand  ;  read  and  remember  so  much  of  geog- 
raphy as  will  enable  him  to  understand  the  form  of  the  globe, 
and  the  relative  situations  of  oceans,  continents,  kingdoms, 
cities,  &c.  ;  acquire  a  considerable  stock  of  historical  knowl- 
edge, so  far  as  facts  are  the  object ;  and  learn  a  just  pro- 
nunciation of  any  living  language.  The  first  rules  in 
arithmetic  may  also  be  taught  him.  All  these  things  a  boy 
of  common  understanding  may  learn  by  the  time  he  is  twelve 
years  old.  I  am  greatly  mistaken  in  John  Pickering  if,  under 
proper  masters,  he  could  not  acquire  an  accurate  knowledge 
of  all  the  branches  of  learning  above  stated,  by  twelve  years 
of  age.  I  think  you  will  find  him  uncommonly  docile  and 
attentive.     .  .  . 

"  Timothy  Pickering." 

The  foregoing  letter  is  of  intrinsic  value,  having  an 
important  bearing  upon  questions,  much  discussed,  as  to 
the  proper  stage,  for  the  acquisition  of  knowledge  of 
languages,  in  the  course  of  education.  John  Pickering 
became,  particularly  in  that  department,  ®ne  of  the  most 
accomplished  scholars  this  country  has  produced.  In 
the  classic,  Oriental,  European,  and  American  aboriginal 
tongues,  he  has  had  but  few  equals. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  165 

In  the  previous  volume  of  this  biography  (page  531), 
a  letter  of  Colonel  Pickering  is  referred  to,  which  gives 
his  views  of  school  instruction  at  considerable  length. 
From  its  carefully  digested  contents,  and  the  complete- 
ness of  the  scheme  it  proposes,  it  is  worthy  of  being 
presented  entire,  in  connection  with  that  just  cited  to 
his  brother,  written  a  month  afterwards.  It  was  elicited 
by  a  movement,  in  which  the  Colonel  and  some 
others  w^ere  engaged,  to  establish  a  school  in  Philadel- 
phia on  an  improved  plan  ;  and  its  suggestions  were 
designed  to  be  considered  by  those  interested  in  the 
project,  and  especially  by  a  gentleman  who,  on  the 
recommendation  of  Noah  Webster,  was  expected  to 
take  charge  of  the  institution.  After  speaking  of  the 
proposed  school,  and  signifying  his  readiness  to  place 
some  of  his  own  boys  in  it,  he  develops  his  views  as 
follows :  — 

"  The  common  mode  of  education  appears  to  me,  in  some 
instances,  absurd,  in  every  instance  tedious,  and  not  half  as 
useful  as  another  mode,  which  seems  so  obvious  that  I 
wonder  it  has  not  been  generall}'  introduced.  But  we  are 
wedded  to  old  habits,  and  loath  to  part  with  them,  however 
unj^rofitable. 

"  To  what  purpose  is  it  to  compel  boys  designed  for  the 
counting-house,  the  sea,  or  mechanics,  whose  education 
ceases  when  they  leave  school,  to  learn  Greek  and  Latin  ? 
And  yet  few  parents  who  can  afford  it,  have  thought  their 
sons  properly  educated,  unless  they  have  wasted  three,  four, 
or  half  a  dozen  years  about  those  languages,  Avhich  in  one 
year  afterwards  they  will  he  sure  to  forget.  And  what  a 
sad  misappropriation  of  half  a  dozen  years  (from  eight  to 
fourteen),  in  which  boys  intended  for  the  university  acquire 
a  smattering  of  Greek  and  Latin,  to  the  neglect  of  almost 
every  other  branch  of  learning !  Perliaps  I  may  have  formerly 
thrown  out  to  you  my  opinion  on  this  sul)ject.     I  will  now 


166  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

be  more  particular ;  and  beg  the  favor  of  your  thoughts  on 
the  phm,  with  the  necessary  corrections  and  amendments 
of  it. 

*'  At  four  years  of  age  a  boy  may  begin  to  learn  to  read ; 
till  then,  or  even  till  five,  I  would  choose  he  should  be  run- 
ning about  and  playing  in  the  open  air,  to  acquire  a  degree 
of  hardiness  and  firmness  of  constitution.  Between  six  and 
seven  he  may  begin  to  write.  At  eight  or  nine  he  may  learn 
so  much  of  geography  as  to  understand,  by  means  of  an 
artificial  globe,  the  form  and  motion  of  the  earth,  and  the 
magnitude  and  relative  situations  of  oceans,  seas,  continents, 
islands,  kingdoms,  &c.,  on  its  surface  ;  the  numbers  of  the 
inhabitants  of  different  states,  whether  governed  by  kings  or 
assemblies  ;  the  most  striking  features  in  the  character  of 
any  people,  their  singular  customs,  dress,  a  few  general  ideas 
of  their  religion,  the  most  remarkable  events  in  their  history, 
curiosities,  general  education  (and  on  this  article  the  master 
will  naturally  lead  his  scholars  to  observe  the  consequences 
of  neglect  or  attention,  the  immense  advantages  of  learning, 
and  miseries  of  ignorance),  and  any  other  matter  which  may 
be  likely  to  engage  the  minds  of  children.  By  this  time  he 
will  have  learned  to  read  with  a  degree  of  propriety,  observ- 
ing the  stops,  and  varying  the  voice.  At  the  same  age  he 
may  begin  the  English  grammar.  At  nine  or  ten  let  him  be- 
gin to  read  French,  to  acquire  a  just  pronunciation^  while  the 
organs  of  speech  are  yet  capable  of  forming  any  sound  ; 
learning  no  more  of  the  grammar  than  just  to  distinguish  the 
parts  of  speech,  in  order  to  determine  the  different  pronunci- 
ation of  similar  combinations  of  letters.  When  he  has 
acquired  such  a  knowledge  of  the  English  Grammar  as  will 
enable  him  to  parse  any  word,  and  resolve  any  common 
sentence  he  meets  with,  let  him  learn  the  French  Grammar, 
for  the  same  purpose.  The  general  principles  of  both  being 
alike,  the  diversities  of  the  French  from  the  English  Gram- 
mar will  be  readily  noticed  and  remembered.  At  eleven,  his 
perceptions  will  be  so  clear  he  may  learn  arithmetic,  without 
being  confounded  with  the  combination  of  numbeis.  These 
may  be  his  studies  till  he  is  twelve  3^ears  old.  During  the 
last  three  years  (from  nine  to  twelve)  he  will  be  set  to  read 


LIFE    OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  167 

entertaining  stories,  fables,  and  select  passages  from  the  best 
English  classics,  in  prose  and  verse,  together  with  so  much 
of  history  as  may  be  found  in  Guthrie's  Geographical  Gram- 
mar. This  reading,  while  it  increases  his  knowledge,  ought 
to  perfect  him  in  a  just  delivery. 

"  Having  laid  up  this  store  of  various  knowledge,  with 
what  amazing  advantage  would  a  boy,  at  twelve,  commence 
learning  the  Latin  language  ?  After  pursuing  that  one  year, 
he  might  begin  with  the  Greek.  And  b}'  fourteen,  I  would 
hazard  any  thing  that  he  should,  together  with  that  general 
knowledge  before  described,  be  more  a  master  of  Latin  and 
Greek,  than  a  boy  of  equal  genius,  who,  in  the  ordinary  way, 
has  been  delving  at  almost  nothing  else,  from  eight  to  four- 
teen. But,  that  the  boy  may  better  understand  the  Latin 
and  Greek  authors,  he  should,  during  the  last  three  months 
of  his  first  course,  be  taught  the  Ancient  Geography.  Oti- 
casional  application,  in  that  short  time,  will  enable  him  to 
understand  enough  of  it  for  the  purpose  here  mentioned, 
and  he  will  readily  le^rn  the  ancient  names  of  those  countries 
and  places  with  whose  names  in  modern  geography  he  is 
already  acquainted.  I  should  wish  a  boy  to  continue  at 
school  till  fifteen ;  which  will  enable  him  to  enter  a  college 
with  great  advantage,  and  a  better  prospect  of  becoming  a 
learned  man.  In  his  last  year  at  school  he  should  be  taught 
book-keeping.  If  any  other  living  language,  besides  French, 
is  to  be  learned,  the  pronunciation  of  it  should  be  acquired,  as 
soon  as  that  of  the  French  is  fixed. 

"  Thus  much  for  the  education  of  boys  intended  for  the  uni- 
versity. There  is  a  much  more  numerous  class,  whose  formal 
instruction  will  cease,  when  thev  leave  school,  at  fourteen  or 
fifteen  vears  old.  These  are  to  be  merchants,  masters  of 
vessels,  mechanics  of  the  first  class,  and  substantial  farmers. 
These  ought  never  to  be  harassed  with  Greek  and  Latin. 
To  the  future  merchant  and  mariner  the  French  language 
will  be  peculiarly  useful,  and  it  should  accordingly  be  taught. 
To  them,  and  to  the  mechanic  and  husbandman,  a  correct 
knowledge  of  their  own  tongue  is  important,  and  it  should 
be  learned  grammatically.  In  one  word,  the  same  course  of 
studies    may  be   prescribed   to    this   whole  class,  as    to   the 


158  LIFE    OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

former,  until  they  reach  twelve  years ;  bating  the  French,  or 
other  forei^^n  language,  to  the  husbandman  and  mechanic. 
At  twelve,  instead  of  Greek  and  Latin,  this  class  will  be 
employed  in  perfecting  themselves  in  the  English  language, 
in  writing  every  hand  necessary  for  the  man  of  business, 
in  geography,  in  arithmetic ;  and  from  the  latter  they  will 
advance  to  the  most  useful  branches  of  the  mathematics, —  as 
navigation,  surveying,  mensuration,  gauging,  —  and  in  the  last 
year  learn  book-keeping.  To  all  of  them,  too,  a  knowledge 
of  the  principles  of  mechanics  would  be  highly  useful.  Dur- 
ing the  same  period  (from  twelve  to  fourteen  or  fifteen), 
they  Avill  be  improving  in  reading ;  and,  in  doing  this,  get 
acquainted  Avith  history,  and  a  few  of  the  best  English 
classics  in  prose  and  verse.  If  the  school  were  kept  in  the 
country,  or  where  land  enough  for  the  purpose  could  be 
obtained,  these  boys,  as  well  as  the  class  intended  for  the  uni- 
versity, might  be  taught  the  principles  and  practice  of  hus- 
bandry and  gardening.  This  would  be  a  useful  acquisition, 
and  serve  as  an  amusement  and  proper  exercise  Avithout 
interrupting  their  other  studies. 

"  Now  is  it  not  very  possible  for  bo3^s  of  common  under- 
standing to  acquire,  under  good  masters,  all  the  branches 
of  useful  knowledge  before  enumerated,  by  the  time  they 
arrive  at  fourteen  or  fifteen  years  of  age  ?  And  if  it  is,  Avhy 
not  attempt  it  ?  Nay,  will  it  not  be  very  practicable,  for  the 
second  class  (as  they  will  be  excluded  from  the  benefits  of  the 
university),  to  learn  the  general  principles  of  government,  in 
its  various  forms,  and  the  history  and  theory  of  commerce  ? 
And,  if  to  complete  this  course  of  education,  the  lads  did  not 
commence  their  apprenticeships  till  fifteen,  would  not  their 
superior  knowledge  render  their  six  years'  services,  till 
twenty-one,  more  valuable  to  their  masters  than  seven  in  the 
ordinary  Avay? 

'^  This  is  the  plan  of  education  I  wish  to  see  universally 
adopted  ;  but,  especially  in  every  great  town,  the  vast  utility 
of  an  English  school,  in  the  extent  here  described,  must  be 
apparent  to  every  one  ;  and  'tis  such  a  school,  to  be  opened 
immediately  in  this  city,  which  I  had  in  contemplation  in  my 
conversation  Avith  Mr.  Webster," 


LITE   OF  TBIOTHY  PICKERING.  169 

I  The  ideas  on  education,  expressed  in  detail  in  the 
foregoing  letters,  are  worthy  of  preservation  in  them- 
selves, as  showing  how  deeply  he  had  studied  the  sub- 
ject ;  but  they  assume  a  value  greater  than  mere  ideas, 
'  as  such,  can  have,  from  their  connection  with  the  very 
interesting  practical  experiment  to  which  they  were  in 
the  process  of  application  at  the  time.  It  may  be 
t^ken  for  granted  that  young  John  Pickering  when,  at 
nine  years  of  age,  he  was  sent  to  his  uncle,  had  not 
been  put  at  all  to  the  study  of  Latin  or  Greek.  But, 
under  his  father's  care  over  his  training,  which  had 
been  very  particular,  not  interrupted  even  by  absence, 
he  had  become  remarkably  proficient  in  the  other  ordi- 
nary juvenile  studies,  particularly  that  of  his  own  lan- 
guage. After  reaching  Salem,  considerable  time  was 
spent  in  visiting  his  relations ;  and,  when  placed  at 
school,  it  is  not  to  be  doubted  that  due  regard  was  paid 
to  his  father's  wishes,  and  that  it  was  not  until  a  con- 
siderable time  later  than  was  then,  or  is  now,  usual,  that 
he  entered,  in  earnest,  upon  the  study  of  any  dead  or 
foreign  language.  In  the  mean  while,  as  a  reader,  speaker, 
and  writer  of  his  own  tongue,  he  had  mastered  all  its 
elements  of  spelling,  construction,  accentuation,  empha- 
sis, and  cadence.  His  young  mind  had  comprehended 
the  philosophy  of  its  grammar  ;  and  his  ear  and  taste 
appreciated  its  elegance,  capacities,  and  force.  The  art 
of  penmanship  (the  neglect  of  which  as  a  part  of  school 
traming  is  quite  too  common)  was  also  fully  acquired. 
When  thus  furnished,  with  faculties  vigorously  matur- 
ing, he  entered,  at  the  school  in  Salem,  upon  the  rudi- 
ments of  Latin  and  Greek,  his  progress  became  quite 
observable.     Xotwithstandins:  manv  earlv  interruptions 


170  LIFE    OF  TIMOTHY  nCKERING. 

and  disadvantages,  from  the  irregular  and  broken  course 
of  life  of  his  family  in  his  early  boyhood,  —  changing  its 
residence  as  head-quarters  changed,  the  children  almost 
always  separated  from  the  father,  and  not  unfrequently 
scattered  among  strangers,  —  John  entered  Harvard  Col- 
lege, and  took  his  degree  with  high  honor  before  he 
was  nineteen  years  of  age,  having  already  established 
that  pre-eminence  which  he  retained  through  life  as  a 
classical  scholar.  His  attainments  in  Latin  and  Greek 
literature,  his  labors  as  a  lexicographer,  and  his  extensive 
conversance,  as  has  been  stated,  with  European  and 
Oriental  languages,  and  those  of  the  American  abo- 
riginal tribes  and  nations,  have  placed  him  in  the  very 
first  rank  of  linguists  in  his  age  and  country.  His  case 
must  be  considered  in  its  connection  with  his  father's 
views,  and  adds,  in  a  just  measure,  to  their  weight. 
The  correspondence  of  Colonel  Pickering  with  the 
founder  of  Phillips  Academy  at  Andover,  described  in 
the  foregoing  volume,  and  with  various  other  parties, 
on  different  occasions,  in  this  and  the  subsequent  vol- 
umes of  his  biography,  will  entitle  him,  in  the  judg- 
ment of  every  reader,  to  be  reckoned  among  the  best 
thinkers  on  the  subject  of  education. 

There  are  different  opinions  at  this  day  as  to  the  best 
period  of  school  education  for  instruction  in  dead  or 
foreign  Umguages.  It  may  be  maintained,  for  instance, 
in  opposition  to,  or  modification  of,  the  views  of  Colonel 
Pickering,  that  if  any  departments  of  learning  are  to  be 
pursued  before  the  faculties  are  matured  to  a  full  under- 
standing of  their  import,  it  had  better  be  dead  or  foreign 
lan^uaires,  than  other  more  practical  and  useful  branches. 
It  mav  be  said  that  in  some  of  the  earliest  years  of  child- 

mi  •' 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  171 

hood,  which  it  is  important  to  bring  and  keep  under  the 
restraints  and  disciphne  of  the  school-room,  but  few 
things  can  be  thoroughly  and  accurately  comprehended  ; 
that  the  only  or  chief  faculty  that  can  then  be  safely  and 
elaborately  wrought  upon  is  the  memory,  which,  after  all, 
throughout  life,  is  an  imperial  faculty  in  its  efficiency 
and  value  ;  that  language,  whether  Latin,  Greek,  or 
any  other,  is  to  be  got  by  memory  ;  and  that,  in  fact,  in 
the  universal  primal  school  of  nature,  every  child  ac- 
quires, before  all  and  beyond  all,  its  own  vernacular 
by  memory  and  imitation,  when  calculation  and  ratioci- 
nation have  hardly  begun  to  be  experienced.  Arguments 
like  these,  and  others  referring  to  the  incalculably  valu- 
able effects  of  accustoming  the  young  and  dawning 
mind  to  the  contemplation  of  the  perfect  models  pre- 
sented by  classic  sentences  and  forms  of  words,  may 
still  be  insisted  on  ;  but  that  there  is,  notwithstanding, 
great  force  in  such  views  as  Colonel  Pickering  urged, 
will  probably  be  more  and  more  generally  acknowledged 
as  the  advancing  phases  of  modern  society  give  an  ever- 
increasing  preponderance  in  the  estimation  of  mankind 
to  what  is  useful,  practical,  and  adequate  to  the  multi- 
form emergencies  of  life. 

Colonel  Pickering's  sister  Mary  was  married  to  the 
E,ev.  Dudley  Leavitt,  of  Salem,  who  died,  February  7th, 
1762.  Some  vears  afterwards,  she  became  the  second 
wife  of  Nathaniel  Peaselee  Sargeant,  Chief-Justice  of 
the  Court  of  Massachusetts,  and  member  of  the  Academy 
of  Arts  and  Sciences.  Elizabeth,  her  dausi^hter  by  her 
first  husband,  was  married  to  William  Pickman.  A  let- 
ter relating  to  her  death  is  given  Vol.  i.,  page  385. 

Judge  Sargeant,  in  a  letter  to  Colonel  Pickering,  dated 


172  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERIXG. 

at  Springfield,  September  29th,  1783,  expresses  himself 
as  follows,  alluding,  in  the  course  of  it,  to  the  death  of 
Mrs.  Pic  km  an  :  — 

"  It  is  with  inexpressible  pleasure  that  I  can  inform  you 
that  your  sister  has,  this  summer,  enjoyed  more  health  than 
at  any  time  since  my  acquaintance  with  her.  I  trust  now-  she 
bids  fair  to  be  my  companion  for  my  life  as  well  as  her  own. 
I  really  feel  that  life  without  her  would  not  be  worth  my  ask- 
ing for.  However  pleasing  the  prospect,  it  always  strikes  a 
damp  on  my  spnits,  when  I  think  how  suddenly  the  pros- 
pects of  Doctor  Orne  and  Mr.  Pickman  have  been  blasted. 
Salem,  that  your  sister  once  thought  a  kind  of  paradise  on 
earth,  has  now  almost  lost  its  charms.  We  have  not  visited 
there  since  November  last.  I  expect  it  will  affect  her  when 
we  go  to  Salem  Court,  but  not  so  much  as  it  would  have  done 
sooner.  She  feels  trouble  for  a  long  time,  but  this  last  "  [the 
death  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Pickman]  ''  was  peculiarly  dis- 
tressing. She  certainly  lost  one  of  the  most  amiable  children 
I  ever  knew.  I  loved  her  as  one  of  my  own  children,  and 
feel  her  loss  as  severely.  It  gives  me  a  melancholy  pleasure 
to  speak,  to  think,  to  write  of  her." 

Paine  Wingate  is  often  mentioned  in  this  Biography. 
His  wife,  Eunice,  was  a  sister  of  Colonel  Pickering.  He 
was  son  of  the  Rev.  Paine  Wingate,  of  Amesbury,  in 
Massachusetts,  was  born  May  14th,  1739,  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  in  1759,  and  became  a  minister  of  the 
gospel.  He  subsequently  bore  a  large  share  in  public 
affairs,  was  a  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of  New- 
Hampshire,  a  delegate  from  that  State  in  the  Old 
Congress,  one  of  its  Senators  in  the  first  Congress  of 
the  United  States,  and  afterwards  a  member  of  the 
National  House  of  Pepresentatives.  He  died.  May  7th, 
1838.  For  fifteen  years,  he  was  the  only  one  living  of  his 
college  class,  and  for  several  years  headed  the  list  of  the 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  173 

« 

surviviiio:  members  of  that  institution.  His  wife  lived 
beyond  a  century,  having  been  born,  April  19th,  1742, 
and  dying  January  7th,  1813. 

Between  Judge  Wingate  and  Colonel  Pickering,  the 
closest  intimacy  and  most  affectionate  friendship  always 
existed.  The  following  is  one  of  the  letters  that  passed 
between  tliem  :  — 

"  Stratham,  January  1st,  1784. 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  By  a  letter  I  received  from  you,  dated  last  April,  I  find 
that  mine  by  Colonel  Dearborn  to  you  has  miscarried.  When, 
or  by  what  conveyance,  this  will  reach  you,  I  am  uncertain, 
as  my  situation  is  such  that  I  know  of  no  opportunity  of 
sending.  You  will  perceive  by  this  that  I  still  live  at  Strat- 
ham. I  principally  employ  myself  in  the  concerns  of  hus- 
bandr}',  and,  I  believe,  enjoy  as  much  contentment  and 
happiness  as  is  common  to  humanity.  I  have  five  children  :  two 
of  them  3^ou  once  knew  ;  my  two  next  are  sons,  named  George 
and  John,  which  names  I  think  I  gave  them  purely  because  they 
were  agreeable,  and  convenient  to  pronounce  while  they  were 
young,  and  w^ould  be  short  for  them  to  use  when  grown  up. 
Mv  vounof;est  child  is  adauo-hter,  near  nine  months  old,  called 
Elizabeth.  You  know  enouo-h  of  our  familv  not  to  doubt  of 
my  fondness  for  my  children,  nor  to  think  it  strange  that  I 
take  singular  pleasure  in  my  two  boys,  one  of  which  is  three 
and  the  other  almost  five  years  old.  We  have  a  good  share 
of  health  in  general,  and  particularly  at  this  time.  My  farm 
affords  me  something  more  than  a  bare  subsistence.  I  have 
an  agreeable  neighborhood  and  extensive  acquaintance.  1  have 
leisure  to  look  upon  the  affairs  of  public  life  ;  and  if  I 
would  practise  the  low  arts  of  some,  I  suppose  I  might  have 
a  share  in  them :  perhaps  I  may  some  time  or  other  without. 
It  is  likely  you  will  think  it  trifling  to  give  you  thus  so  long  a 
detail  of  my  domestic  concerns,  but  I  have  nothing  at  present 
more  interesting  to  inform  you  of. 

"  In  your  last  letter  but  one,  you  made  some  inquiries 
respecting  Siberia  wheat.  It  is  probable  that,  since  that  time, 
you  have  heard  the  fate  of  it.  That  grain  (as  is  common  to 
most  if  not  all  exotics)  has  become  natundized  to  the  climate, 


174  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

and  subject  to  the  disasters  of  other  wheat.  I  suppose  that  a 
new  importation  of  that  kind  of  seed  might  answer  the  pur- 
pose again  as  it  did  heretofore.  I  have  nothing  new  in  hus- 
bandry to  communicate.  I  go  on  pretty  much  in  the  old 
track  of  culture.  B}^  attention,  neatness,  and  labor,  the 
products  of  a  farm  may  be  greatly  increased  ;  but  I  do  not 
expect,  by  any  kind  of  magic,  to  cause  the  earth  to  bring 
forth  plentifully  and  durably. 

"  I  join  with  you  in  welcoming  the  happy  event  of  peace, 
and  hope  the  Independency  of  the  United  States  will  conduce 
to  an  increased  freedom  and  happiness.  It  would  have  been 
an  addition  to  my  satisfaction  to  have  had  the  return  of  peace 
returned  you  and  family  to  your  native  town  and  connections 
again.  You  are  not  insensible  that  you  have  a  large  share  in 
the  esteem  and  affections  of  your  relations  and  friends  ;  and 
I  cannot  think  but  that  you  might  have  gratified  them,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  have  provided  for  yourself  in  your  return. 
But  I  do  not  pretend  to  be  judge  of  your  prospects  in  busi- 
ness at  Philadelphia.  I  would  not  attempt  to  dissuade  you 
from  your  interest,  so  far  as  is  consistent  with  your  own 
ease  and  enjoyment  of  life,  and  that  extensive  usefulness 
which  you  owe  to  society.  You  may  depend  upon  every 
cheerful  aid  in  my  power  in  whatever  situation  you  are,  and 
my  most  ardent  wishes  will  ever  attend  you  of  prosperity  and 
happiness.  I  rejoice  in  your  domestic  welfare,  the  restored 
health  of  your  wife,  and  increase  of  children.  I  hope  that 
you  Avill  find  leisure  to  visit  us,  with  your  family,  before  long, 
although  you  should  think  it  best  to  fix  your  stated  residence 
at  the  southward.  In  the  mean  time,  any  opportunity  of 
writing  to  me  of  your  w^elfare,  if  you  will  embrace  it,  it  will 
afford  me  the  greatest  pleasure. 

''  I  desire  that  my  affectionate  regard  to  your  wife  and 
children  may  be  mentioned,  and  be  assured  that  with  partic- 
ular esteem  and  friendship,  I  am  yours,  &c., 

"  Paine  Wingate. 

"  Mr.  Timothy  Pickering." 

The  correspondence  between  Colonel  Pickering  and 
his  relatives  and  particular  friends  in  Massachusetts 
will  be  further  drawn  upon  in  subsequent  chapters. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  175 

I  His  tastes  and  characteristics  did  not,  perhaps,  wholly 
adapt  him  to  a  life  of  trade.  It  was  soon  found  to  be 
'  an  unfortunate  time  to  institute  a  commercial  enterprise. 
The  expenses  of  living  were  great  in  a  large  city,  the 
profits  of  his  business  did  not  afford  encouragement, 
and  he  was  compelled  to  look  about  for  some  other 
sphere  of  industry.  His  life  as  a  merchant  compre- 
hended a  very  short  period. 

Agriculture,  from  his  earliest  to  his  latest  day,  was 
the  object  of  his  predominant  attachment ;  and  nothing 
but  a  sense  of  duty  to  his  country,  and  the  prospective 
necessities  of  his  family,  had  been  able  to  reconcile  him 
to  a  postponement  of  it  to  other  employments.  As  his 
prospects  of  success  in  the  mercantile  line  became  less 
promising,  his  heart  and  imagination  turned  back,  more 
and  more,  to  the  life  of  a  farmer.  In  17^6  the  circum- 
stances of  his  situation  compelled  him  to  take  decisive 
steps  in  some  direction.  He  was  then  over  forty  years 
of  age,  and  a  large  young  family  was  growing  up  en- 
tirely dependent  upon  his  exertions.  He  had  brought 
no  property  out  of  the  responsible  and  laborious  public 
positions  he  had  occupied  ;  and  his  compensation,  as 
Quartermaster-General,  had  ceased  with  the  abolition 
of  that  office  the  year  before. 

It  has  been  stated  that,  about  the  close  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  he  entered  into  correspondence  with 
Ethan  Allen  and  others,  in  reference  to  the  purchase 
of  lands  in  Vermont.  But  the  serious  conflict  of  juris- 
diction prevailing  then  between  the  State  of  New  York 
and  claimants  —  Green  Mountain  boys,  as  they  were 
called  —  under  New  Hampshire  grants,  prevented  the 
further    prosecution  of  this   purpose.      Still   harboring 


176  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

the  thon2:ht,  to  which  his  f\incv  became  continnallv 
drawn,  of  spending  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  subdu- 
ing the  wilderness  and  becoming  the  proprietor  of  new 
and  fertile  fields,  he  bought,  in  company  with  others, 
large  tracts  of  wild  western  lands,  situated  in  that  part 
I  of  Virginia  now  Kentucky,  and  also  some  on  the  then 
outskirts  of  settlement  in  Pennsylvania.  He  was 
prevented,  however,  from  entering  upon  them  by  the 
state  of  his  family,  and  the  remaining  business,  pub- 
lic and  private,  that  held  him  to  Philadelphia  ;  but 
especially  by  the  earnest  entreaties  of  his  relatives  and 
friends  in  Massachusetts,  to  come  back  and  lix  his 
abode  there.  They  remonstrated  against  his  abandon- 
ing them,  and  carrying  his  young  family  into  the  depths 
of  a  wilderness.  Indeed,  at  one  time  he  so  far  yielded 
as  to  conclude  it  to  be  his  duty  to  give  up  all  his  cher- 
ished visions  of  opening  a  settlement  in  the  AVest  for 
himself  and  children,  and  return  to  his  former  occupa- 
tions in  his  native  town  and  State. 

The  trying  fluctuations  of  purpose  to  which  his  mind 
was  thus  subjected,  and  the  incidents  and  considerations 
that  finally  determined  his  choice  and  fixed  his  resolu- 
tion to  look  elsewhere  than  in  Massachusetts  fo-r  scenes 
of  enterprise  and  industry  in  which  to  exercise  his 
energies,  find  a  congenial  field  for  the  labors  of  his  life, 
and  secure  the  means  of  supporting  his  family,  will 
appear  in  the  next  chapter. 

In  the  mean  while  circumstances  were  shaping  his  des- 
tiny to  an  experience  that  constitutes  the  most  remark- 
able episode  of  his  life,  distinguishing  it  from  that  of 
any  of  his  eminent  contemporaries,  and  imparting  to  it 
an  element  of  romance,  not  elsewhere  to  be  found  in 
modern  biographies. 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  177 


CHAPTER  Vl^fi'*^ 


^' 


r^^^^ 


He  resolves  to  become  a  Pennsylvania  Farmer.  —  Alanning  Sick- 
ness, and  remarkable  Recovery,  of  his  Brother.  —  The  Rebel- 
lion in  Massachusetts.  —  Appointed  to  civil  Offices  in  the 
County  of  Luzerne. 

1785-1786. 

On  the  conclusion  of  his  military  service,  the  family 
and  friends  of  Colonel  Pickering  in  Massachusetts  were 
earnest  in  soliciting  him  to  return  and  make  his  resi- 
dence with  them,  and  continued  to  urge  him  to  that 
effect,  as  stated  at  the  close  of  the  preceding  chapter, 
while  engaged  in  his  mercantile  enterprise  at  Philadel- 
phia. His  only  brother  was  apparently  in  failing  health. 
His  aged  mother  longed  to  have  him  come  back  to  her; 
so  did  all  his  seven  sisters,  with  their  husbands  and  chil- 
dren. They  mourned  his  absence,  and  had  confidently 
indulged  the  hope  of  having  him  restored  to  them  on 
the  termination  of  his  duties  connected  with  the  army 
of  the  Revolution.  The  whole  family  were  remarkably 
bound  together  by  the  ties  of  affection,  and  all  took 
pride  in  his  character  and  cherished  the  deepest  love 
and  respect  towards  him.  He  reciprocated  these  senti- 
ments fullv  and  ardentlv.  He  was  a  faithful  and  devoted 
son  and  brother.  His  judgment,  however,  prevailed 
over  his  feelings  at  this  crisis,  and  he  could  not  but  con- 
tinue in  the  conviction  that  his  duty  to  his  children 
required  him  to  seek  some  other  field  in  which  to  labor 
foL  their  establishment  in  life  than  was  opened  in  Mas- 
sachusetts. 

Vol.  II.  12 


178  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

At  the  same  time,  the  calls  for  his  return  were  so 
strong  that  he  could  not  wholly  disregard  them,  and 
sometimes  they  almost  shook  his  purpose.  At  one 
conjuncture  they  prevailed,  and  he  made  up  his  mind 
to  return  to  his  native  place.  But  circumstances,  now 
to  be  related,  again  changed  his  purpose. 

In  fulfilment  of  the  understanding,  when  at  the  call 
of  Washington  he  relinquished  every  thing  and  joined 
the  army,  the  people  of  the  county  stood  ever  ready  to 
reinstate  him  by  their  votes  in  the  office  of  Register  of 
Deeds  ;  but  he  could  not  reconcile  himself  to  the  thought 
of  returning  to  that  situation  while  his  brother  lived. 

Then,  again,  he  was  assured  that  a  seat  on  the  bench 
of  the  Supreme  Court  awaited  his  return  to  the  State. 
But  his  conscientious  scruples  presented  an  insurmount- 
able obstacle  in  the  way  of  yielding  to  this  otherwise 
tempting  offer.  He  always  frankly  expressed  his  readi- 
ness to  take  any  public  position  for  which  he  felt  himself 
fit,  that  would  help  him  to  maintain  his  family ;  but  he 
refused,  over  and  over  again,  desirable  offices,  for  which 
there  was  a  doubt  in  his  own  mind  of  his  having  the 
requisite  qualifications.  This  was  one  instance.  He  told 
his  friends  who  were  engaged  in  the  arrangement,  that 
he  could  not  think  for  a  moment  of  accepting  an  appoint- 
ment as  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court.  He  had,  it  was 
true,  before  and  at  the  opening  of  the  war,  been  a  Judge 
of  the  County  Court  and  of  Admiralty.  But  long  years 
had  passed  since  his  thoughts  had  been  directed  to  such 
matters  ;  circumstances  had  prevented  his  ever  making 
any  considerable  legal  attainments ;  his  professional 
practice  had  been  brief  and  limited,  and  he  never  had 
enjoyed  any  leisure  to  pursue  or  preserve  what  learning 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  179 

he  might  have  had  in  the  law.  These  considerations 
led  him  positively  to  decline  the  proposal  of  making 
him  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Massachusetts. 
The  result  was  that,  when  his  mercantile  operations 
were  brought  to  a  close,  his  mind  became  fixed  in  the 
determination  of  opening  a  settlement  in  the  wilderness 
for  a  permanent  home.  The  intelligence  that  he  had 
come  to  this  conclusion  was  received  with  the  deepest 
regret  by  his  friends  in  Massachusetts.  The  following 
is  one  of  many  letters  addressed  to  him  on  this  occasion 
and  subject.  It  is  a  pleasing  specimen  of  the  lively 
humor  and  warm  affection  that  characterized  Judge 
Sargeant's  epistolary  style.  The  Colonel's  reply,  besides 
interesting  domestic  details,  shows  the  enthusiasm  with 
which  he  contemplated  the  line  of  life  on  which  he  was 
proposing  to  enter.  Agricultural  enterprises  and  pur- 
suits always  presented  rose-colored  visions  to  his  ardent 
imagination. 

•'  Haverhill,  May  10th,  1785. 

"Dear  Brotheb, 
"  Mr.  Payson  has  kindly  offered  to  procure  a  conveyance 
for  this  letter.  I  therefore  embrace  this  opportunity  to  let 
vou  know  that  vou  have  a  brother  and  sister  in  the  world, 
which  we  supposed  you  had  forgot.  She  cordially  joins  with 
me  in  love  to  vou,  sister,  and  our  unknown  cousin.  She 
enjoys  a  good  state  of  health.  I  have,  for  three  weeks,  been 
hacking  out  a  troublesome  cold,  and  find  old  age  has 
nearly  got  hold  of  me.  How  he  and  I  shall  suit  together  I 
can't  certainly  tell  yet.  Some  future  paper  may  inform  you 
more  of  it.  Your  coz,  Sally  White,  is  safely  married  to  Mr. 
Payson,  and  I  hope  happily  too.  He  and  Mr.  Johnston  are 
in  trade  here,  and  in  partnership.  Their  business  is  very 
large  for  this  place,  and  they  support  a  very  good  character ; 
and  I  hope  they  will  make  their  business  turn  to  good  account. 
I  suppose  you  might  know  them  both  when  they  lived  in 
Salem,  about  ten  years  ago. 


180  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

''  We  had  flying  reports  that  you  thought  of  going  to  Karen- 
happuchiana,  or  some  such  plaguy  hard-named  place,  christ- 
ened hy  Congress^  to  set  up  farming.  Your  sister,  whose 
judgment  I  know  is  good^  and,  be  sure,  I  don't  think  mine  is 
lessso^  both  agree  tliat  you  ought  not  to  go  to  farming.  We 
think  neither  you  or  sister  can  be  happy  in  that  way  of  living. 
We  hope  nothing  but  dire  necessity  —  which  Heaven  avert 
—  will  determine  you  to  that  emploj^ment.  We  ardently  wish 
that  you  may,  sooner  or  later,  get  back  to  your  old  friends, 
which  will  make  them  happy  if  you  are  so.  If  you  can  see 
any  views  I  have  in  writing  this  long  scrawl,  I  am  very  glad, 
for  I  can  find  none,  but  to  let  you  know  that  we  are  your 
most  affectionate  brother  and  sister, 

''  Nathaniel  Peaslee  and  Mary  Sargeant." 

"  Philadelphia,  June  lltli,  1785. 

"Dear  Sir, 
"  I  received  your  favor  enclosed  in  the  letter  of  Johnston 
and  Payson,  and  am  happy  to  learn  that  my  sister  enjoys  so 
good  health,  and  that  Sally  is  married  with  so  fair  prospects. 
I  wish  that  both  may  continue.  Now  and  then,  when  I  have 
occasion  to  recur  to  some  past  event,  and  say  '  about  thirty 
years  ago,'  I  feel  a  sudden  surprise  at  my  advanced  age  ;  but 
you  will  say,  perhaps,  that  I  am  fortunate  enough  if  I  meet 
with  no  other  mementos  of  it.  Truly  I  feel  none.  Perhaps 
I  never  enjoyed  better  health,  though  my  bones  are  as  prom- 
inent as  ever.  Some  ten  or  twelve  years  hence,  perchance, 
I  may  speak  of  old  age  as  you  do  now.  Yet,  as  I  have  a 
less  burthen  to  carry  on  my  journey,  I  hope  I  shall  not  so  soon 
complain  of  fatigue  ;  certainly  this  would  be  against  me  if  I  go 
to  '  Karenhappuchiana,'  '  Mughilbucktum,'  or  other  part  of 
the  American  wilderness.  In  this  case  I  should  hope  to  enjoy 
yet  twenty  years  of  health  and  vigor.  And,  in  that  period, 
with  ten  thousand  acres  about  me,  completely  improved,  I 
should  have  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  my  choice.  A  right 
to  such  a  tract  of  land,  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  of 
Philadelphia,  and  requiring  only  twent}^  or  thirty  miles  of 
land-carriage  for  produce  I  have  j^urchased.  When  the  sur- 
veys are  completed,  and  the   patents  in  my. pocket,  it  will 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  181 

stand  me  a  pistareen  an  acre,  or  rather  less.  'Tis  chiefly 
good,  strong  beech  land,  interspersed  with  sugar-maple,  some 
excellent  ash,  and  some  white  oaks.  In  some  parts  there  is 
large  white  pine.  I  am  concerned  in  a  company  who  have 
a  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  acres  together,  answering 
the  above  description.  By  the  close  of  summer,  or  in  the 
fall,  I  shall  have  this  business  completed,  and  then  I  intend  to 
visit  the  county  of  Essex,  with  a  view  to  obtain  settlers.  Will 
you  spare  me  any  for  myself  and  company  ?  Settlers  we  must 
get,  whether  I  go  myself  or  not.  I  am  not  absolutely  deter- 
mined ;  possibly  something  may  intervene  to  prevent  me.  I 
did  please  myself  with  the  idea  of  taking  Mrs.  P.  with  me ; 
but  I  suspect  it  may  not  to  her  be  convenient. 

''  You  know  we  have  four  boys.  Charles,  the  youngest, 
perhaps,  will  excel  his  brothers.  He  was  twelve  months  old 
the  25th  ult.  He  goes  alone,  and  yesterday  was  Avhipping 
a  top  ;  having  a  perfect  idea  of  the  sport,  though  not  being 
able,  like  his  brothers,  to  keep  it  up.  He  has  by  far  the  finest 
eye ;  and  the  brightness  of  the  eye  is  often  emblematic  of  the 
mind.  We  think  none  of  them  defective  in  understanding. 
John  is  the  most  docile  child  I  have  been  acquainted  with. 
He  was  but  eight  years  old  last  February.  Of  upwards  of 
one  hundred  boys  at  the  Episcopal  Academy,  not  one  reads 
better  than  he.  He  spells  remarkably  well,  and  writes  a  good 
hand.  In  reading  he  marks  the  accent,  emphasis,  cadences, 
and  stops  with  more  propriety  than  I  have  known  done  by  so 
young  a  boy.  Tim  has  equal  sagacity,  but  is  of  a  dispo- 
sition somewhat  truant :  he  loves  fim.  Henry  is  a  sturdy 
boy,  who  has  not  yet  been  shown  a  letter,  but  discovers  no 
want  of  capacity.  Do  I  prate  ?  and,  in  defiance  of  my  pre- 
tensions to  the  contrary,  have  I  betrayed  the  old  man,  by  my 
garrulity  ?  Nevertheless,  my  sister  will  not  be  displeased 
with  my  story.  To  her,  to  you  and  Sally,  accept  the  tender 
of  sincere  affection  from 

"  T.  and  R.  Pickering. 

"  P.  S.  —  My  sister  will  have  heard  of  the  arrival  of  Betsey 
White,  the  only  sister  of  my  wife.  We  are  much  pleased 
with  her  ;  and  by  her  dexterity  with  her  needle  and  uncom- 
mon industry,  my  wife  receives  the  most  usefid  aid." 


182  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

Colonel  Pickering  did  not,  however,  visit  Essex  County 
to  procure  settlers,  or  send  for  them.  A  change  came 
over  his  plan,  shortly  after  the  date  of  the  foregoing  let- 
ter, which  diverted  him  from  settling  on  wild  lands,  and, 
for  a  time,  he  was  led  to  consider  it  expedient  and  neces- 
sary to  return  to  his  native  State. 

Near  the  conclusion  of  the  previous  volume,  the  ex- 
treme sickness  and  unexpected  recovery  of  his  brother 
are  mentioned.  The  circumstances  of  that  case  were  so 
peculiar,  and  the  consequent  effects  upon  the  course 
of  life  of  the  subject  of  this  memoir  so  serious  and  mo- 
mentous, that  they  may  be  more  particularly  related. 
John  Pickering  was  a  man  of  marked  characteristics. 
He  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  of  the  class  of 
1759.  Being  the  elder  son,  he  inherited  the  larger  part 
of  the  family  property.  He  was  never  married.  His 
tastes  and  acquired  habits  led  him  to  seek  to  adhere  to 
a  private  and  quiet  course  of  life,  from  which,  however, 
he  was  forced,  by  the  importunities  of  his  fellow-citizens, 
occasionally  and  to  some  extent  to  depart.  For  twelve 
years  he  was  a  Representative  from  Salem  in  the  legislat- 
ure, and  for  three  years  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives of  Massachusetts.  He  was  an  original  member 
of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences.  The 
public  confidence  in  his  integrity,  patriotism,  and  wis- 
dom, was  deep  and  enduring.  He  occupied  himself 
mainly  in  agricultural  pursuits,  declining  the  office  of 
Notary  Public  and  other  employments  that  would  have 
constantly  interfered  with  the  care  of  his  farm,  or  an* 
noyed  him  by  breaking  in  too  considerably  upon  his 
chosen  retirement  from  public  affairs. 

But  when  his  brother  was  summoned  to  permanent 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICItERING.  183 

service  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution,  his  fraternal  affec- 
tion induced  him  so  far  to  forego  his  inclinations  as  to 
consent  to  take  his  place  as  Register  of  Deeds  for  the 
County  of  Essex,  with  the  understanding  that,  upon  the 
termination  of  his  brother's  military  service,  he  was  to  be 
relieved  from  the  situation.  This  was  the  view  of  the 
arrangement  taken  by  the  pubUc  also.  All  the  people 
appreciated  the  sacrifice  Timothy  made  in  abandoning 
the  means  of  supporting 'his  family,  at  the  call  of  Wash- 
ington and  in  devotion  to  the  cause  of  the  country ;  and 
there  was  a  universal  concurrence  of  feeling  and  pur- 
pose that,  if  he  lived  to  return,  his  civil  offices  should 
be  restored  to  him.  John,  as  Timothy  had  been,  was 
re-elected  unanimously  Register  of  Deeds.  Its  duties 
were  found  not  inconsistent  with  the  preference  for  un- 
conspicuous  positions  and  a  retired  line  of  life,  which  so 
strikingly  distinguished  him  from  his  younger  brother. 
John  was  a  still  man,  of  few  words,  shrinking  from  the 
conflicts  of  life.  Timothy  was  demonstrative,  and  prompt 
to  engage  in  whatever  discussions,  controversies,  or  ac- 
tivities awakened  his  sensibilities  or  attracted  his  atten- 
tion. Unlike  as  they  were  in  these  respects,  the  brothers 
had  equal  strength  of  character,  purity  of  purpose, 
integrity  of  principles,  and  conscientiousness  in  the 
discharge  of  all  duties  and  trusts.  They  loved  each 
other  with  a  singular  affection,  most  beautifully  mani- 
fested in  a  life-long  correspondence  on  all  matters  of 
private  family  business  and  public  affairs.  During  the 
Colonel's  unexpectedly  protracted  military  service,  John 
had  become  accustomed  to  the  details  of  the  office  of 
Register  of  Deeds  ;  his  daily  life  ran  easily  along  its 
routine,  and  he  had  acquired  familiarity  with  the  per- 


184  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHr  PICKERING. 

sons  and  interests  of  the  whole  people  of  the  county. 
His  brother  was  unwilling  to  disturb  what  had  become 
an  established  state  of  things.  John  was  not  only  ready, 
but  would  have  been  delighted  at  any  time  to  welcome 
Timothy  back,  and  at  once,  in  fulfilment  of  the  original 
arrangement,  made  way  for  the  transference  of  the  office 
back  to  him  ;  but  Timothy  was  impressed  with  the  con- 
viction that  the  discontinuance  of  the  employment  to 
which  his  old-bachelor  brother  had  become  habituated 
would  be  accompanied  by  some  discomfort,  at  least  for  a 
time.  For  these  reasons  he  would  not  hearken  to  the 
proposition  to  take  his  place  ;  and  it  may  be  considered 
certain  that,  if  he  had  returned  to  Salem,  he  would,  dur- 
ing his  brother's  life,  have  absolutely  refused  to  allow^  the 
original  arrangement  to  be  carried  out,  so  far  as  related 
to  the  office  of  Kegister  of  Deeds.  When,  at  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  war,  his  mother,  brother,  sisters,  and  all  his 
relatives  and  connections,  as  well  as  the  people  of  the 
county  and  commonwealth  generally,  besought  him  to 
come  back  and  be  reinstated  among  them,  he  was  un- 
doubtedly led  by  the  feelings  now  described,  positively 
and  persistently,  to  decline.  He  consequently  resolved 
to  provide  for  his  family  by  entering  into  arrangements 
in  other  directions  ;  but  his  plans  to  this  end  were  for  a 
time  suspended. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1785,  John  Pickering,  who  for 
some  time  had  been  unwell,  gave  indications  of  rapidly 
failing  health,  which  continually  increased  until  his  case 
became  alarming,  and,  as  the  year  1786  opened,  he  had 
sunk  so  low  that  all  hopes  of  his  recovery  were  aban- 
doned. The  following  passages  from  letters  of  the  Rev. 
John  Clarke  to  Colonel  Pickering  show  the  nature  and 
progress  of  his  disease  :  — 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERmG.  185 

"  Boston,  December  1st,  1785. 
"  The  occasion  of  this  letter  (which  I  write  in  very  great 
haste)  is  the  alarming  situation  of  your  brother.  He  thinks 
himself  better,  but  I  am  fully  persuaded  he  is  worse.  His  cough 
increases  upon  him.  His  pain  in  the  side  does  not  abate.  A 
person  who  has  carefully  observed  his  countenance  says  it 
has  changed ;  and,  to  tell  you  the  plain  truth,  I  have  every 
reason  to  think  he  is  going  into  a  consumption.  His  friends 
are  not  all  of  them  aware  of  this,  but  you  will  find  it  is  not 
an  imagination  of  my  own.  I  thought  it  proper  to  communi- 
cate my  sentiments  respecting  this  matter,  that,  if  they  should 
eventually  be  true,  you  might  not  be  wholly  unprepared." 

"Boston,  January  lltli,   1786. 

''  My  Uncle  John  grows  continually  weaker.  He  is  not 
only  in  a  confirmed  consumption,  but  in  the  last  stages  of  it. 
Several  ulcers  have  collected  and  broken.  He  has  no  expec- 
tation of  his  own  life,  but  wishes  for  the  relief  which  death 
only  can  afford.  His  spirits,  however,  are  as  high  as  usual, 
and  he  is  rather  more  sociable. 

"  Dr.  Orne  is  now  confined  to  his  bed.  I  expect  every  day 
will  be  his  last.  My  uncle  cannot  long  survive  him.  Salem 
will  meet  with  a  great  loss,  and  the  people  in  general  seem 
to  be  sensible  of  it." 

Letters  to  the  same  effect  were  written  by  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family.  John,  not  expecting  to  live  many 
days,  caused  the  features  of  his  will  to  be  communicated 
to  Timothy,  that  he  might  at  once  be  apprised  of  the 
circumstances  that  would  require  his  immediate  pres- 
ence after  the  looked-for  event,  and  demand  his  personal 
attention  in  the  distribution  of  the  property  that  would 
thus  fall  to  him  and  his  numerous  sisters. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  intelligence  of  this  sort,  the 
Colonel  absolutelv  abandoned  all  his  other  enj^ao^ements 
and  plans,  and  signified  his  determination  to  return 
forthwith  to  Salem  as  his  permanent  residence.  The 
feeling  of  delicacy,  as  to  the  ofi^ice  of  Register  of  Deeds, 


186  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

being  removed,  he  made  known  his  purpose,  and  prepared 
to  communicate  to  his  friends  in  the  county  his  readi- 
ness, on  the  death  of  his  brother,  to  accept  the  situation, 
if  conferred  upon  him  by  the  votes  of  the  people.  It 
seemed  at  the  time  a  settled  thing  that  the  residue  of  his 
life  would  pursue,  in  the  daily  discharge  of  the  duties 
of  a  clerical  and  local  office,  the  course  in  which  it  was 
running  when  the  war  of  the  Hevolution  broke  out. 

He  could  not  immediately  leave  Philadelphia,  and 
it  was  not  necessary  ;  as  his  brother,  although  slowly 
declining,  did  not  appear  to  be  so  near  his  end  as  had 
been  apprehended.  The  malady  inexorahilis  phthisis^ 
generally  thought,  as  by  his  nephew  Clarke,  to  be  in- 
curable, is  subject  to  great  fluctuations.  Hopes  are  often 
excited  in  the  minds  of  friends,  and  especially  of  the 
patient,  by  favorable  symptoms  ;  but  the  result  is  found 
inevitably  the  same.  So  it  was  thought  it  would  prove 
in  this  case.  John  Pickering,  at  times,  appeared  to 
be  slightly  better  ;  but,  on  the  whole,  the  disease  seemed 
to  be  steadily  triumphing  over  all  remedies  and  all 
checks.  For  a  long  period  he  was  hovering  over  the 
brink  of  the  grave.  When,  however,  he  was  supposed 
to  be  dropping  into  it,  a  marvellous  change  took  place. 

In  the  early  part  of  March,  Judge  Sargeant  met  in 
Boston  one  of  the  Selectmen  of  his  town  (Haverhill), 
w^ho  showed  him  a  secret  circular  letter,  addressed  to  the 
Selectmen  of  the  several  towns  in  the  county  of  Essex, 
by  a  person  soliciting  votes  for  the  office  of  Register  of 
Deeds,  on  the  ground  of  John  Pickering's  disability  and 
supposed  nearly  impending  death.  George  Williams, 
happening  to  be  there  at  the  time,  obtained  permission 
to  take  the  circular  letter,  and  drove  back  with  it,  post- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  187 

haste,  to  Salem.  It  was  Friday,  and  the  election  was 
to  take  place  on  the  following  Monday.  Upon  reaching 
Salem,  Mr.  Williams  made  the  matter  known  to  John 
Pickering,  handing  him  the  document.  He  was  filled 
with  surprise  and  indignation  ;  started  from  his  bed  ; 
called  for  pen,  ink,  and  paper,  and  wrote  a  letter  on  the 
spot,  with  his  own  hand,  to  the  Selectmen  of  the  towns, 
announcing  himself  a  candidate  for  re-election  to  the  . 
office.  The  letter  was  forthwith  despatched,  and  reached 
the  Selectmen  of  every  town  by  Saturday  night.  On 
Monday  he  was  re-elected,  receiving  nearly  the  whole 
vote  of  the  county. 

The  indignation  of  John  Pickering  on  this  occasion 
was  partly  owing  to  the  feeling  that  it  was  an  outrage 
upon  the  proprieties  of  the  moment  to  start  this  move- 
ment without  his  knowledge,  while  he  was  so  near  his 
end,  but  chiefly  because  it  was  a  violation  of  the  under- 
standing, not  only  among  friends  of  the  family,  but 
the  people  of  the  county  generally,  that,  upon  his  failing 
to  hold  the  office,  it  should  be  restored  to  his  brother. 

The  angry  excitement  into  which  the  sick  man  was 
thus  so  suddenly  thrown  renewed  his  expiring  strength, 
started  into  action  his  whole  system,  and  poured  a 
warmer  circulation  through  every  vein.  His  passions 
and  his  will,  as  they  were  thus  roused,  brought  up  with 
them  his  sinking  frame,  and  restored  its  wonted  energies. 
It  was  like  a  shock  of  electricity,  exploding  and  dispers- 
ing the  fatal  elements  of  his  disease.  It  stopped  the 
ebbing  tide  of  life,  and  turned  it  into  a  flood  of  reviving 
health.  From  that  moment  he  was  better,  and  the  con- 
sumptive symptoms  began  to  disappear.  Mr.  Williams, 
in  giving  an  account  of  it,  in  a  letter  to  Colonel  Picker- 


188  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

ing,  said  that  "his  resentment  gave  a  spring  to  his 
spirits,  and  has  done  him  more  good  than  all  the  doc- 
tors." 

The  belief  among  his  friends  had  become  so  fixed  that 
his  disease  was  incnrable,  and  he  had  been  brought  so 
near  to  death's  door,  that  it  was  long  before  they  could  be 
convinced  that  he  was  really  recovering  health.  In  a 
.  letter  of  Mr.  Clarke  to  Colonel  Pickering,  of  April  29th, 
1786,  he  says,  "  He  is  able  to  quit  his  chamber,  and 
join  the  circle  below.  I  am  astonished  when  I  reflect 
on  his  situation.  That  he  cannot  live  long  is,  however, 
the  settled  opinion  of  yours,"  &c.  Writing  again,  on  the 
9th  of  June,  he  says,  "  I  have  lately  paid  a  visit  to 
Salem,  and  1  must  say  I  have  no  expectation  my  uncle 
John  Pickering  can  live.  For  a  number  of  weeks  he 
may,  indeed,  endure  life  ;  but  it  is  impossible  he  should 
ever  be  a  well  man.  His  disorder  is  a  consumption. 
And  was  a  consumption  ever  radically  cured  ?  You  had 
better  turn  your  thoughts  toward  your  native  place,  and 
avoid  every  connection  which  may  fix  you  in  that  part 
of  the  country  where  you  now  reside." 

While  his  relatives  were  thus  incredulous  as  to  his 
recovery,  John  Pickering  himself  felt  that,  although  the 
process  was  slow,  he  was  steadily  getting  better.  In 
the  first  letter  lie  wrote  to  his  brother,  dated  June  6th, 
1786,  a  few  days  before  that  of  Mr.  Clarke,  from  w^hich 
the  last  extract  has  been  made,  he  says,  •'  A  long  time 
has  passed  since  you  have  received  any  letter  from  me. 
A  very  severe  indisposition  of  body  prevented  my 
writing.  I  am  now  weak  and  infirm,  and  still  troubled 
with  a  cough,  but  that  is  much  less  than  it  has  been, 
and  my  pains  of  body  are  now  very  small.     1  walk  and 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERIXG.  189 

ride  abroad  when  the  weather  is  good."  Again  ^vriting, 
October  27th,  1786,  he  says,  "  I  have,  my  dear  brother, 
for  the  last  few  weeks  enjoyed  myself  free  from  pain  of 
body,  and  have  coughed  but  little,  and  in  all  respects 
been  better  than  I  have  been  for  ten  or  twelve  months 
before.  I  can  walk  from  my  house  to  brother  Wil- 
liams's and  back  again,  without  difficulty ;  but  I  am 
still  weak  and  an  invalid." 

John  Pickering's  health  w^as,  at  last,  fully  restored, 
and  he  continued  to  record  the  deeds  of  the  county, 
and  conduct  the  operations  on  his  farms,  for  a  quarter  of 
a  century  afterwards. 

The  details  of  his  disease,  wdth  the  opinion  Mr. 
AYilliams  expressed  as  to  the  efficient  agency  towards  its 
cure,  have  been  given,  because  the  case  is  of  singular 
interest,  and  possibly  of  importance.  Whether  it  may 
be  expedient,  judicious,  or  practicable,  to  arrest  the 
progress  of  maladies  of  the  kind  by  giving  such  a  start 
to  the  feelinofs,  and  throusrh  them  to  the  vital  circula- 
tions,  of  a  patient,  is  the  question.  At  any  rate  the 
precedent  is  worthy  of  preservation,  and  of  taking  its 
place  in  the  history  and  science  of  therapeutics. 

The  amendment  of  his  brother's  health  again  changed 
Colonel  Pickering's  plans.  As  the  necessity  of  his  re- 
turn to  his  native  State  w^as  removed,  the  vision  he  had 
indulged  of  reclaiming,  by  the  labors  of  twenty  years, 
ten  thousand  acres  of  the  wilderness,  bringing  it  under 
cultivation,  and  thus  providing  valuable  and  permanent 
estates  for  his  children,  revived  in  his  mind.  Another 
consideration  combined  to  turn  his  thoughts  decisively 
against  making  his  residence  in  Massachusetts.  That 
State  was  then  convulsed  by  agitations  that  threatened 


190  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

to  overthrow  the  whole  fabric  of  law  and  government, 
and  which  actually  soon  ripened  into  a  formidable  re- 
bellion. 

A  letter  from  his  brother  informed  him  that  move- 
ments were  making  to  abolish  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  and  to  revolutionize  the  established  order  of 
things,  dispensing  with  the  registration  of  deeds  by  a 
county  officer,  and  lodging  it  with  the  clerks  of  the 
several  towns.  He  says,  "The  unhappy  insurrections 
in  several  parts  of  the  Massachusetts,  and  obstructions 
to  the  courts  of  law,  have  filled  the  minds  of  the  think- 
ing members  with  anxious  concern.  Our  General 
Court  met  in  consequence  of  these  troubles,  and  are  now 
sitting.  A  very  small  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  Essex 
appear  to  countenance  the  conduct  of  their  Western 
brethren."  His  brother-in-law.  Judge  Sargeant,  wrote 
to  him  from  Boston  to  the  same  effect.  He  says,  "  The 
aspect  of  our  public  affairs  is  truly  alarming.  I  could 
write  you  a  volume  on  the  subject,  but  suppose  the 
newspapers  will  carry  you  bad  news  fast  enough. 
Northampton  and  Worcester  Common  Pleas  are  stopped. 
This  week  I  suppose  Concord,  Taunton,  and  Berkshire 
courts  will  stop.  The  next  week  I  expect  our  court  at 
Worcester,  and  so  in  succession,  at  Springfield,  Great 
Barrington,  and  Taunton,  will  share  the  same  f\\te. 
The  flagitious  Tories,  taking  advantage  of  the  pressure 
of  honest  debts,  high  taxes,  and  scarcity  of  money,  have 
stirred  up  a  true  Catalinarian  conspiracy  against  the 
government.  God  only  knows  if  they  will  not  go  nigh 
to  succeed." 

With  such  a  state  of  things  in  Massachusetts,  it  is 
not  to  be  wondered  at  that  Colonel  Pickering  preferred 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  191 

Pennsylvania  for  a  home.  It  will  appear,  in  the  issue, 
that  he  did  not  thereby  avoid  the  terrors  of  lawlessness, 
but  in  escaping  Scylla  fell  into  Charybdis. 

Upon  hearing  of  his  determination,  his  friends  ex- 
pressed their  deep  regret,  still  continuing  their  remon- 
strances and  solicitations  to  him  to  return  to  them. 
His  brother  says:  "It  has  always  been  my  wish,  and 
the  wdsh  of  all  your  sisters,  that  you  might  be  settled  in 
this  State,  or  near  to  us,  and  my  state  of  health  has 
made  me  often  wish  vou  had  all  the  offices  I  hold  in 
this  county."  His  nephew  Clarke  used  stronger  and 
more  uncontrolled  language : 

"  I  cannot  but  totally  disapprove  your  removal  to  the 
uncultivated  parts  of  your  State.  You  must  return  to  Salem, 
—  your  friends  all  expect  it.  They  all  ardently  desire  it. 
My  Uncle  John  continuallv  wishes  to  see  you  in  vour  native 
place  ;  and  we  promise  ourselves  we  shall  once  more  be  happy 
in  your  society.  Do  not  disappoint  our  expectations.  The 
Register's  office  can  be  yours  immediately.  You  can  be  an 
acting  justice.  You  can  be  a  farmer.  You  can  be  a  mer- 
chant. And  you  can  be  a  blessing  to  all  your  friends,  par- 
ticularly to  your  very  affectionate, 

"  J.  Clarke." 

The  following  letter,  in  reply  to  that  just  quoted, 
gives  the  conclusion  of  the  whole  matter.  The  subject 
of  what  move  he  should  next  make  in  life  —  which  had 
exercised  the  anxious  thoughts  of  Colonel  Pickering 
for  more  than  a  year,  kept  his  plans  in  painful  suspense, 
and  in  reference  to  which  there  had  been  such  fluctua- 
tions of  purpose  —  w^as  now^  settled  and  disposed  of. 

"Philadelphia,  October  Uth,  1786. 

"My  Dear  Sir, 
"  Your  favor  by  S.  Gardner,  he  delivered  me  on  the  9th 
in  the  evening.     Your  affectionate  solicitations  excited  all  my 


192  LIFE  or   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

feelings.  ^NI}-  heart  was  ever  with  you ;  and  I  was  grieved 
at  the  idea  of  a  permanent  separation.  But  my  apparent 
interest  checked  my  wishes  ;  and  now  the  die  is  cast.  Last 
Monday  tlie  Supreme  Executive  Council  appointed  me  Pro- 
thonotary  [Clerk]  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  Clerk  of 
the  Court  of  Sessions,  and  Clerk  of  the  Orj:)hans  Court  for  the 
new  county  of  Luzerne,  and  a  Judge  of  the  same  Court  of 
Common  Pleas.  As  soon  as  the  Assembly  meets  (which  will 
be  on  the  23d  instant),  I  shall  apply  for  the  office  of  Register 
of  Wills  and  Recor^ler  of  Deeds  for  the  same  county.  The 
Register  of  Wills  is  the  Judge  of  Probate,  as  Avell  as  the 
Register  of  the  proceedings  in  that  court. 

''  You  will  wonder  to  see  so  many  offices  vested  in  one 
person ,  but  it  is  here  the  practice,  in  new  counties,  because, 
where  there  are  few  inhabitants,  the  fees  are  consequently 
few.  The  two  last  offices  are  in  the  gift  of  the  Assembly, 
and  I  am  told  that  I  shall  doul)tless  obtain  them. 

"  My  inducements  to  accept  of  these  offices  are  various. 
1.  My  lands  nearest  to  Philadelphia  lie  in  the  county  of 
Luzerne,  and  I  can  promote  the  settlement  of  them,  while  I 
hold  these  offices.  2.  Sundry  gentlemen  of  my  acquaintance, 
who  are  large  landholders  in  the  same  county,  will  commit 
the  disposition  of  their  lands  to  me  on  commission.  3.  The 
offices  are  not  at  present  lucrative,  yet,  as  the  county  will 
populate  rapidly,  the  gentlemen  of  the  law  assure  me  that, 
in  a  few  years,  they  will  become  greatly  so.  4.  While  the 
profits  are  small,  the  business  will  be  small,  and  admit  of  my 
frequent  absence  to  direct  the  settlement  and  improvement 
of  my  lands.  5.  By  the  time  that  my  sons  come  of  age,  the 
business  of  the  several  offices  Avill  be  so  increased  as  to  re- 
quire a  separation  ;  when,  if  I  should  live,  I  can  successively 
resign  one  and  another  into  the  hands  of  my  sons.  These, 
I  hope,  you  will  deem  weighty  reasons  for  my  determination. 

"  There  is  another  consideration  which  your  philanthropy 
will  pronounce  an  important  one.  This  new  county  is 
chiefly  settled  by  New  England  people,  and  multitudes  more 
are  read}^  to  emigrate  from  that  country  to  this,  provided  the 
dispute  with  the  Wyoming  people  [as  to  the  title  to  their 
lands]  were  settled.     As  one  probable  means  of  settling  the 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  193 

dispute,  these  appointments  are  conferred  upon  me.  On 
one  hand,  I  possess  the  confidence  of  government ;  on  the 
other,  it  is  presumed  I  shall  be  acceptable  to  my  countrymen. 
I  have  it  much  in  my  power  to  effect  a  reconciliation.  This 
I  shall  attempt.  Further,  these  people,  during  the  late  war, 
have  been  destitute  of  instruction,  both  civil  and  religious. 
I  shall  have  it  in  inclination,  as  it  will  be  not  a  little  in  my 
power,  to  introduce  such  means  of  education  as  will  prevent 
their  degenerating  to  a  savage  state,  to  which  they  have  been 
verging. 

"  I  shall  write  you  again  after  the  meeting  of  the  Assem- 
bly. At  present  I  have  only  time  to  add,  that  I  am  most 
affectionately  yours. 

*'T.    PiCKEEIXG. 
"Ret.  John  Clarke." 

In  a  letter  to  his  brother  dated  "  Philadelphia, 
November  15th,  1786,"  he  says  :  — 

"Dear  Brother, 

"  With  heartfelt  gratitude  I  read  your  letter  of  the  2Tth 
idt.,  by  Captain  Very.  I  hope  your  attention  to  business 
will  be  so  moderate,  and  your  exercise  so  constant  and  recju- 
lar,  as  to  confirm  your  recovery  to  health.  Your  friends  and 
the  public  will  rejoice  in  the  event."  [After  giving  a  list  of 
the  offices  conferred  upon  him  by  the  Council  and  the  Assem- 
bly, the  same  as  mentioned  in  his  letter  to  Mr.  Clarke,  he  goes 
on,  as  follows.]  "  The  office  of  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas 
is  given  to  enable  the  Prothonotary  (according  to  the  usage 
here)  to  sign  all  writs,  and  it  is  only  in  particular  cases  that 
he  takes  a  seat  on  the  bench. 

"  The  Register  of  Wills  not  only  records  the  proceedings 
in  the  Probate  Court,  but  takes  the  probate  of  wills,  and 
grants  letters  of  administration.  In  deciding  on  certain 
judicial  matters,  in  the  Probate  Court,  he  calls  in  to  his 
assistance  two  justices  of  the  peace. 

''The  Orphan;  Court,  composed  of  the  justices  of  thu 
county,  takes  cognizance  of  the  estates  of  orphans. 

"  Luzerne  is  a  new  county,  and  comprehends  a  large  tract 
of  country,  full  one  hundred  miles  in  length  and  forty  or 

Vol.  II.  13 


194  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

fifty  in  breadth;  but  'tis  tliinly  peopled.  Indeed  tbe  bulk  of 
it  is  yet  a  wilderness,  though  there  are  some  settlers,  along  the 
river  Susquehanna,  at  both  extremes  of  it.  It  comprehends 
the  Wyoming  District,  which  was  a  long  time  in  dispute 
between  Pennsylvania  and  Connecticut.  The  latter  State 
was  excluded  by  the  decision  of  the  Continental  Court  at 
Trenton  ;  and  the  dispute  with  the  occupants  of  the  land  is 
in  a  train  for  settlement.  This  ended,  the  county  will 
raj^idly  populate,  and  then  the  afore-mentioned  offices  will 
become  very  valuable.  In  the  mean  time,  they  will  give  me 
leisure  to  attend  to  the  settlement  and  improvement  of  my 
lands,  which  fall  within  the  county.  Some  gentlemen  of  the 
law,  and  others  acquainted  with  those  offices  in  other  of  the 
quondam  frontier  counties  of  this  State,  say  my  prospects 
are  very  great ;  and,  with  this  account  of  them,  I  hope  my 
determination  will  be  approved  by  you. 

"  The  total  separation  from  m}^  friends  was  painful  to  me  ; 
but  I  thought  the  interest  of.  my  family  demanded  the 
sacrifice. 

"  I  remain,  my  dear  brother,  most  affectionately  yours, 

"-  T.  Pickering." 

The  other  offices  seem,  by  the  policy  of  the  State 
in  organizing  new  counties,  to  have  been  attached  to 
that  of  Prothonotary,  for  which  alone,  therefore,  it 
was  necessary  to  make  formal  application.  The  follow- 
ing document  fully  shows  the  views  with  which  the 
appointments  were   sought   and  conferred :  — 

"  To  PIis  Excellency  the  President,  and  the  Hon- 
orable THE  Council  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Pennsylvania. 

"  The  Subscriber  begs  leave  to  present  himself  as  a  can- 
didate for  the  office  of  Prothonotary  for  the  County  of 
Luzerne. 

•'  I  have  been  informed  that  the  bill  for  erecting  the 
Wyoming  District  into  a  separate  county  is  passed  into  a  law, 
and  that  the  civil  officers  for  the  county  are  now  to  be  ap- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  195 

pointed.  The  office  of  Prothonotary  has  been  proposed  for 
my  consideration,  on  these  grounds :  that  the  forming  that 
district  into  a  separate  county  was  intended  as  a  conciliatory 
measure  ;  that,  with  the  same  view,  it  must  be  the  desire  of 
government  to  appoint  such  persons  to  the  civil  offices  in  the 
county  as  may  be  most  likely  to  allay  the  jealousies  subsisting 
among  the  Xew  England  settlers,  and  at  the  same  time  pos- 
sess the  confidence  of  the  rest  of  the  State  ;  that,  being  a 
native  of  New  England  (though  not  of  Connecticut),  the 
settlers  will  be  gratified  by  my  appointment  ;  and  that 
having,  for  several  years,  been  conversant  in,  and  an  inhabi- 
tant of  Pennsylvania,  I  am  here  sufficiently  known  ;  and  the 
gentlemen  who  have  proposed  the  office  to  me  have  been 
pleased  to  say  that  I  should  doubtless  enjoy  the  confidence 
of  the  State.  If  these  opinions  are  well  founded,  there  will 
be  no  impropriety  in  my  requesting  of  your  Excellency,  and 
the  Honorable  the  Council,  to  be  appointed  Prothonotary  for 
the  County  of  Luzerne,  which  office  will  be  gratefully  ac- 
cepted and,  I  trust,  duly  executed. 

*'  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  most  respectfully,  your  Excel- 
lency's and  Honors'  obedient  servant, 

"  Timothy  Pickerixg. 

"  Philadelphia,  September  25th,  1786." 

Such  were  the  purposes,  motives,  and  expectations 
with  which  Colonel  Pickering  was  now  to  make,  as  he 
then  designed  and  believed  it  to  be,  his  last  move.  Turn- 
ing away  from  all  conspicuous  public  positions,  he 
withdrew  to  a  retired  scene  of  humble'  industry,  and 
services  of  limited  local  usefulness.  He  was  to  become 
a  settler  in  a  wilderness, —  a  backwoodsman, —  and  it 
was  his  whole  ambition,  bv  his  influence  and  exertions, 
to  restore  peace  and  quiet  among  rude  men  who  had 
been  wrangling  and  fighting  for  more  than  thirty  years ; 
to  establish  order,  law,  education,  and  religion  in  a 
secluded  rural  district ;  and  to  transform,  by  conducting 


196  LIFE   OF    TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

and  co-operating  in  the  hardest  kind  of  toil,  a  pathless 
forest  into  fertile  fields  and  valuable  farms.  The  per- 
sonal endurances  to  be  undergone  had  no  terrors  for  him. 
Labor,  bodily  or  mental,  was  the  luxury  of  his  life.  His 
physical  energies  were  equal  to  all  the  demands  of  axe, 
hoe,  or  plough ;  to  the  utmost  exposures  and  the  rough- 
est conditions.  The  prospects  of  ultimate  success  in- 
spired him  with  confidence  and  gladness,  and  he  felt  safe 
and  sure  in  indulging  his  long-cherished  visions  of  agri- 
cultural independence  and  pastoral  tranquillity.  Little 
did  he  foresee  that  hardships  and  perils  awaited  him, 
which  give  to  this  stage  of  his  biography  an  interest 
wholly  singular,  and,  as  has  been  stated,  without  a  paral- 
lel in  the  experience  of  any  other  eminent  men  of  his 
day. 

The  foregoing  documents  refer  to  what  he  called  the 
Wyoming  "  dispute,"  one  of  the  most  remarkable  pas- 
sages in  the  interior  annals  of  this  country,  which  it 
will  be  the  purpose  of  the  next  chapter  to  narrate  and 
explain. 


LIFE  OF  TmOTHY  PICKERING.  197 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Wyoming  Lands  Controversy. 
1753-1778. 

Before  proceeding  to  relate  Colonel  Pickering's  ex- 
perience and  adventures  in  the  interior  of  Pennsylvania, 
it  is  expedient  to  explain,  with  some  particularity,  the 
state  of  things  in  the  territory  where  he  was  about  to 
fix  his  abode.  To  do  this  it  becomes  necessary  to  go 
back  to  a  period  long  antecedent  to  the  breaking  out 
of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  to  discuss  a  topic  belong- 
ing to  colonial  history,  and  to  a  region  invested  with 
the  interest  of  romance  from  the  extraordinary  sufferings 
and  horrors  of  which  it  was  the  scene  ;  and  for  ever 
made  attractive  to  the  imaginations  and  sensibilities  of 
all  men  the  world  over  by  the  charms  of  poetry  in 
strains   of  immortal  beauty. 

r 

The  subject  is  entangled  in  controversies,  at  that  and 
at  the  present  time  hard  to  settle,  and  embracing  acts 
of  violence  and  outrage  upon  which  it  is  equally  diffi- 
cult to  pass  judgment  or  offer  explanation.  The  trans- 
actions occurred  in  the  depths  of  a  then  remote  and 
almost  inaccessible  wilderness.  Those  who  took  a 
leading  share  in  them  were  instigated  by  parties  at 
a  distance.  It  is  impossible  to  measure  responsibility 
where  every  thing  conspired  to  aggravate  the  sense  of 
wrong,  and  mislead  the  judgment  of  all  concerned.    But 


198  LIFE  OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

few  records  or  documents  exist  to  throw  adequate  light 
on  the  events  or  the  actors.  Darkness  envelopes  the 
whole  subject,  and  conflicting  statements,  interests,  and 
passions  perplex  attempts  to  present  the  case  in  its 
true  merits.  I  shall  describe  it  with  reference  to  the 
main  historical  facts  and  general  considerations  relating 
to  it,  without  indorsing  the  violent  excitements  on  either 
side,  or  participating  in  the  prejudices  in  which  all 
were  involved. 

It  is  quite  necessary  to  present  the  topic  somewhat 
at  length,  in  order  to  explain  a  state  of  things  with 
which  the  subject  of  this  biography  became  singularly 
and  critically  connected  ;  and  to  show  the  origin  of  a 
social  demoralization  and  turbulence,  a  spirit  of  insub- 
ordination and  general  distrust,  a  proneness  to  violent 
civil  convulsions,  —  the  result  of  extraordinary  and  long- 
continued  contentions,  wrongs,  distresses,  and  desola- 
tions to  which  that  region  had  been  subjected,  producing 
a  condition  of  the  public  passions  which  had,  for  a  gen- 
eration, defied  all  the  repressive  and  remedial  efforts  of 
government ;  and  whose  last  outbreaks  he  was  called  to 
encounter,  control,  and  subdue.  The  narrative  Avill  be 
given  in  as  condensed  a  form  as  possible,  presenting 
succinctly  the  leading  points  of  a  protracted  train  of 
events,  in  as  regular  an  order  as  can  be  educed  from 
available  records  and  the  most  reliable  traditions. 

The  ignorance  universally  prevailing  as  to  the  dimen- 
sions, outlines,  and  geographical  features  of  the  North 
American  Continent,  and  as  to  the  relative  positions  of 
its  several  portions,  when  the  English  Colonies  were 
planted  upon  it,  led  to  a  use  of  language  —  in  defining 
the  boundaries  and  extent  of  the  territories  designed  to 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  199 

be  embraced  in  the  respective  original  charters  granted 
by  the  Crown  of  England  —  that  occasioned  serious  and 
lasting  difficulties.  They  were  based  upon  a  certain 
specified  width,  extending  in  parallel  lines  •'  from  sea 
to  sea,"  as  the  expression  was ;  that  is,  from  the  At- 
lantic shore  to  that  of  the  supposed  western  ocean, 
wherever  that  shore,  then  undiscovered,  might  be  found 
to  be.  The  irregular  slants  of  the  eastern  front  of  the 
Continent,  not  then  understood  or  surveyed,  caused  these 
grants  to  run  into,  overlie,  and  cross  each  other,  so  that 
large  areas  of  country  were  ultimately  found  to  fall 
within  the  charter  limits  of  two  or  more  Colonies ; 
conflicting  claims  consequently  arose  as  to  jurisdiction 
and  proprietary  rights,  particularly  between  Xew 
Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  Xew  York,  and 
Pennsylvania.  These  conflicts  became  sharp,  bitter,  ear- 
nest, and  pertinacious.  An  idea  prevailed  that  the  interior 
and  unexplored  regions  were  rich  in  various  mineral 
ores ;  in  all  likelihood  in  precious  metals  ;  and,  beyond 
question,  were  of  much  greater  natural  fertility  than 
any  then-settled  portions  of  the  country.  The  imagina- 
tions of  men  were  everywhere  wrought  upon  by  accounts 
of  casual  explorers  and  others  who  had  listened  to  tales 
that  had  currency  among  wandering  aborigines.  The 
fancied  riches  of  these  parts  of  the  newly  discovered 
world  also  excited  the  credulity  of  European  nations ; 
and  adventurous  expeditions  were  made  by  the  French 
on  the  north,  and  Spaniards  on  the  south,  up  the  mighty 
rivers  St.  Lawrence  and  Mississippi,  across  and  around 
the  Great  Lakes ;  of  many  of  which,  doubtless,  no 
record  remains.  This  feeling  gave  energy  and  ear- 
nestness  to   the  contests  for  jurisdiction  and  dominion 


200  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

between  the  people  of  the  great  maritime  and  military 
powers  over  the  western  forests  of  America.  It,  of 
course,  spread  through  the  British  American  Colonies, 
whose  inhabitants,  from  their  proximity  to  the  coveted 
regfions  and  more  direct  and  natural  connection  with 
them,  could  not  but  have  their  thoughts  drawn  with 
livelv  interest  in  that  direction. 

As  the  resolute  determination  of  England  to  assert  and 
recover  her  claims  to  the  North  American  Continent  be- 
came known  and  appreciated,  her  colonists  turned  their 
attention,  with  particular  scrutiny,  to  the  language  of 
the  charters,  giving  them  indefinite  extension,  even 
from  sea  to  sea.  Individuals  and  parties,  acting  under 
the  auspices  of  companies  formed  for  the  purpose,  went 
forth  from  the  older  settlements  deeper  and  deeper  into 
the  wilderness ;  keeping  between  the  lines  specified, 
and,  however  far  they  went,  claiming  to  be  within  the 
limits,  and  shielded  by  the  sovereignty  of  the  respective 
Colonies  to  which  they  belonged.  When,  having  been 
thus  careful  to  observe  the  proper  boundaries,  they 
found  themselves  confronted  by  persons  of  other  Prov- 
inces, making  similar  pretensions,  and  claiming,  under 
other  charters  emanating  from  the  same  royal  authority, 
the  rightful  possession  of  the  country,  serious  conse- 
quences  were  inevitable.  Controversies  and  conflicts  en- 
sued. The  final  conquest  of  Canada  by  Great  Britain  gave 
a  new  impulse  to  this  tendency  to  emigrate  to  the  western 
wilderness,  which  had  indeed  been  for  some  time  in 
process.  The  consummation  of  that  event  made  every 
English  colonist  feel  that  the  whole  Continent  was  now 
his  own. 

The  settlement  by  adventurers,  actuated  by  this  spirit, 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  201 

on  a  tract  of  land  which  was  afterwards  declared  by 
Pennsylvania,  New  York,  and  Connecticut  to  be  within 
their  respective  charter  limits,  became  the  occasion  of 
one  of  the  most  memorable  conflicts  arising  from  this 
cause  in  our  ^history.  As  in  this  conflict  Colonel  Picker- 
ing was  destined  to  be  most  responsibly  and  perilously 
involved,  it  becomes  an  element  in  his  biography  requir- 
ing to  be  explained  with  some  particularity.  The  settlers 
pitched  upon  the  locality,  because  it  was  within  the 
charter  lines  of  Connecticut,  the  Colony  to  which  they 
belonged,  and  they  had  been  led  into  the  enterprise  by 
prominent  parties  in  that  Colony,  clothed  with  corporate 
powers  conferred  by  its  legislative  authorities.  The 
territory  they  occupied  and  claimed  embraced  the 
country  around  the  Great  Bend  of  the  Susquehanna  and 
both  its  main  forks  or  branches,  and  stretching  up  to  the  ' 
present  southern  line  of  Xew  York  and  above  it.  The 
present  counties  in  Pennsylvania  of  Northumberland, 
Montour,  Columbia,  Luzerne,  Wyoming,  Bradford,  and 
Tioga,  are  comprehended  in  what  was  claimed  by  these 
Connecticut  settlers.  Wilkesbarre  and  its  neighborhood 
were  the  scenes  of  the  principal  transactions  between 
and  among  the  conflicting  parties.  The  entire  region 
had  been  established  as  a  county  by  the  then  govern- 
ment of  Pennsylvania,  un^er  the  name  of  Northumber- 
land ;  and  in  the  course  of  the  controversy  the  same 
area  was  made  first  a  town,  and  then  a  county,  of  Con- 
necticut, under  the  name  of  Westmoreland,  by  an  act 
of  the  legislature  of  that  Colony.  Indeed,  at  one  time  the 
parties  in  Connecticut,  under  whose  auspices  the  emi- 
grants had  been  sent  out,  and  who  instigated  and 
backed   their   proceedings,  had  in  view  to   establish   a 


202  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

new  separate  State  there,  under  the  same  name,  West- 
morehmd. 

Before  going  further  into  the  details  of  this  affair,  and 
to  give  a  just  view  of  the  character  of  this  remarkable 
land  controversy,  the  following  passage  from  the  "  His- 
tory of  the  United  States  of  North  America,"  by  James 
Graham,  LL.D.  (vol.  iv.,  p.  128),  may  properly  be  quoted  : 

"  A  passion  for  occupjdng  new  territories  and  forming  new 
settlements  rose  to  an  amazing  height  in  New  Hampshire  and 
in  every  other  quarter  of  New  England  ;  and  the  gratification 
of  this  taste  fostered  a  stubborn  resolution  and  habits  of  dar- 
ing and  hardy  enterprise  congenial  to  the  prevalent  sentiments 
of  independence,  and  propitious  to  the  efforts  which  these 
sentiments  portended.  The  continual  migrations  of  this  pro- 
vincial race  from  their  own  proper  territory  to  every  other 
quarter  of  America  exerted  also  (as  it  still  continues  to  exert) 
a  highly  beneficial  effect  in  improving  and  assimilating  all  the 
American  communities,  by  spreading  through  their  people  the 
knowledge  and  virtue,  the  spirit,  character,  and  habits  so  dih- 
gently  cultivated  in  New  England,  and  so  honorably  distinc- 
tive of  her  peculiar  population.  Among  other  ne^^  settlements 
created  by  the  exuberant  vigor  of  New  England,  at  this 
period,  was  one  whose  primitive  manners  and  happiness,  as 
well  as  the  miserable  desolation  which  it  subsequently  under- 
went in  the  Revolutionary  war,  have  been  rescued  from 
neglect  and  oblivion  by  the  genius  of  a  poet  of  Scotland,  — 
the  settlement  of  Wyoming  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Susque- 
hanna. The  territory  of  this  settlement  had  been  purchased 
several  years  before  by  an  association  of  Connecticut  planters 
from  the  Indian  Confederacv  of  the  Six  Nations  ;  but  first  the 
war  with  France,  and  afterwards  the  war  with  the  Indians, 
deterred  the  resort  of  inhabitants  to  the  soil  till  the  year  1763, 
when  it  was  first  colonized  by  emigrants  from  Connecticut. 
The  social  union  of  various  races  of  men,  and  the  conversion  of 
gallant  warriors  into  patriarchs  and  husbandmen,  so  beauti- 
fully described  by  Campbell  in  his  '  Gertrude  of  Wyoming,' 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  203 

is  rendered  probable  by  the  increased  resort  which  now  took 
place  of  emigrants  to  America  from  every  quarter  of  Europe, 
including  a  considerable  number  of  British  officers,  who,  de- 
prived of  their  occupation  by  the  peace,  and  smitten  with  the 
charms  of  rural  life  in  America,  transferred  their  residence  to 
a  land  to  which  their  victorious  heroism  had  imparted  addi- 
tional value  and  security.  This  settlement,  like  the  occupa- 
tion of  the  Vermont  territory,  gave  rise  to  a  controversy  on 
which  poetry  has  no  colors  to  bestow.  A  keen  litigation  for 
the  dominion  of  it  arose  between  the  government  of  Connecti- 
cut, to  which  it  properly  belonged,  and  the  proprietaries  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  derived  a  plausible  claim  from  the  vague- 
ness of  their  charter,  and  who,  like  the  Royal  Governors  of 
New  York  and  New  Hampshire,  were  eager  to  augment  their 
emoluments  by  multiplying  the  occasions  of  exacting  fees  for 
grants  of  lands,  to  wliich  the  grantees  had  already,  by  previous 
purchase  from  the  natural  owners,  a  much  more  equitable 
title  than  those  pretenders  to  sovereignty  were  able  to  confer." 

Graham  refers,  as  his  authority  for  the  views  here 
given,  to  Trumbull,  the  historian  of  Connecticut,  and  his 
sympathies  were,  as  a  consequence,  naturally  in  favor  of 
the  settlers  from  that  Colony,  in  the  prolonged  experi- 
ences of  suffering,  accompanied  by  loss  of  property  and 
life,  to  which  they  were  subjected.  There  are  some 
points  in  his  statement  that  require  comment.  Emi- 
grants from  Connecticut  had  taken  up  their  abode  in 
the  disputed  territory  at  an  earlier  date  than  is  assigned 
by  Graham,  —  earlier  than  supposed  by  Colonel  Pick- 
ering when  treating  the  subject  in  a  letter  which  will  be 
given  in  full  in  a  subsequent  chapter.  The  precise  time 
when  Connecticut  emigrants  first  appeared  there  is  in- 
volved in  oblivion,  and  was  prior  to  any  known  record. 
The  following  citations  show  that  they  were  there,  and 
apparently  had  been  for  some  time,  in  1760  :  — 


204  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

In  the  '^  Aspinwall  Papers,''  recently  published  by 
the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  in  its  "  Collections," 
there  are  documents  that  prove  this.*  Richard  Peters 
(uncle  of  the  celebrated  Revolutionary  patriot  of  that 
name),  whose  services  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  in 
the  administration  of  the  affairs  of  Pennsvlvania,  as  Sec- 
retary  to  the  Governor,  member  of  the  Council,  and  in 
charge  of  the  Land  Office,  make  him  the  highest  author- 
ity as  to  the  details  in  the  history  of  that  Province,  writing 
from  Philadelphia  to  General  Monckton,  August  14th, 
1760,  says:  "I  am  told  that  the  people  of  Connecticut 
are  attem^pting  to  get  footing  in  the  Indian  country  above 
and  west  of  Cashictan,  in  latitude  41.40  minutes,  and 
from  thence  to  latitude  41,  under  a  pretence  that  their 
Royal  grant  gives  them  to  the  south  towns.  This,  if 
true,  may  do  infinite  mischief  at  this  time."  In  another 
letter  from  Peters  to  Monckton,  dated  at  Philadelphia, 
August  loth,  1761,  after  giving  a  brief  account  of  a 
"  grand  meeting,"  at  which  the  Governor  and  authorities 
of  Pennsylvania  had  been  "  amusing  themselves  "  with 
an  assemblage  of  Indians  belonging  to  the  "  Six  Nations," 
and  five  other  subordinate  tribes,  at  Easton  in  that 
Province,  he  states  that  the  "  Connecticut  Settlement" 
w^as  spoken  of.  The  Pennsylvania  dignitaries  gave  to 
the  Indians  their  views  in  reference  to  that  settlement. 
As  Peters  says :  "  This  was  related  to  them  in  its  naked 
truth  ;  and  they  were,  moreover,  told  that  these  vagrants 
settled  those  lands  under  color  of  Indian  purchases,  and 
they  were  asked  if  they  had  sold  the  lands  to  the  New- 
England  people.     They  denied  it,  and  mentioned  that 

*  Vol.  ix.,  Fourth  Series,  pp.  300-440. 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  205 

some  private  Indians  had  taken  upon  them  to  sell  it." 
Peters  goes  on  to  state  that  "  a  string  "  was  given  them 
"  to  carry  to  the  Onondaga  Council,  and  to  request  that, 
in  full  council,  they  would  reprove  their  young  men,  and 
declare  those  sales  void.  In  short,  presents  were  made 
as  usual,  and  a  large  number  of  Quakers  attended  and 
were  as  busy  as  ever." 

The  foregoing  passages  shed  light  upon  a  point  on 
which  the  subsequent  controversies,  to  a  great  degree, 
hinged.  The  Connecticut  Company  claimed  to  have 
purchased  the  lands  from  the  Indian  proprietors.  The 
government  of  Pennsylvania  insisted  that  the  purchase 
had  been  made  of  a  few  Indians,  unauthorized  to  convey 
the  lands,  and  affirmed  that  the  transaction  had  been  dis- 
owned by  a  full  council  of  the  "  Six  Nations  "  and  their 
allied  tribes.  The  letters  of  Peters  bring  to  view  the 
means  used  by  the  government  of  Pennsylvania  to  pro- 
cure this  disavowal,  and  show  some  ground  for  the  con- 
viction entertained  by  the  Connecticut  settlers  that  they 
had  not  been  fairly  dealt  with.  They  felt  that  they  had 
obtained  the  lands,  in  an  open  and  regular  way,  from 
chiefs  and  sachems  authorized  to  sell  them  ;  that  they 
had  paid  in  good  faith  the  stipulated  price  ;  and  that 
the  "  Six  Nations"  had  been  led,  by  undue  influence,  to 
disavow  the  bargain.  Hence  the  pertinacity  and  ani- 
mosity with  which  they  persevered  in  the  subsequent 
contests  for  the  territory.  In  point  of  fact,  both  parties, 
at  one  time  or  another,  secured  a  purchase  of  the  lands 
from  the  "  Six  Nations,"  ostensibly  in  "  full  council." 

This  has,  indeed,  been  the  difficulty  experienced  at 
all  times,  to  the  present  day,  in  reference  to  regions  of 
country  purchased  of  Indians.     The  government  of  tribes 


206  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

is  SO  iindeiined  and  uncertain,  that  questions  as  to  the 
authority  of  particular  chiefs  to  negotiate  business  of 
this  sort  can  easily  be  raised,  which  it  is  impossible 
to  settle  in  the  absence  of  formal  records  and  written 
credentials  duly  authenticated. 

The  Connecticut  "  Susquehanna  Company  "  was  rec- 
ognized, and  established  by  the  legislature  of  that 
Colony  in  1754.  It  made,  soon  after,  the  alleged  pur- 
chase, and  settlers  sent  on  by  it  had  undoubtedly  taken 
possession,  begun  to  cut  down  the  forests,  break  the 
ground,  and  build  log-houses  and  barns,  some  time,  it  is 
impossible  to  say  how  long,  prior  to  1761.  The  govern- 
ment of  Connecticut  forthwith,  and  continually,  treated 
the  territory  as*  within  its  jurisdiction.  It  was  incor- 
porated, as  has  just  been  stated,  by  acts  of  the  As- 
sembly of  that  Colony,  first  as  a  town,  and  then  as  a 
county,  duly  organized  as  such,  and  brought  by  these 
formal  acts  under  its  laws  and  jurisdiction.  Commissions, 
conferring  the  functions  of  justice  of  peace,  were  issued. 
Members  elected  by  the  votes  of  the  settlers  took  and  held 
seats  in  the  Connecticut  House  of  Assembly.  The  govern- 
ment of  that  Colony,  it  thus  appears,  officially,  publicly, 
and  steadily  sustained  the  cause  of  its  settlers,  vindicated 
their  rights,  and  legalized  their  proceedings.  The  set- 
tlers were,  therefore,  justified  in  insisting  upon  their 
allegiance  to  Connecticut  for  twenty-eight  years,  from 
1754  to  1782,  when,  as  will  appear,  a  competent  judicial 
tribunal  remanded  them  to  the  jurisdiction  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  controversy  ought  to  have  ceased,  but 
unhappily  did  not. 

But  besides  the  question  of  the  validity  of  the  Indian 
purchases,  and  beneath  it,  was  the  question  of  charter 


LIFE   OF    TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  207 

limits.  Pennsylvania  was  a  proprietary  government, 
owned  by  the  heirs  and  representatives  of  William  Penn, 
holding  under  the  charter  granted  to  him  by  the  King 
of  England.  Pennsylvania  claimed  that,  by  the  language 
of  that  charter,  she  was  entitled  to  the  territory  occupied 
by  the  Connecticut  settlers.  The  administration  of 
affairs  in  Pennsylvania  was  subject  to  particular  difficul- 
ties and  impediments.  It  was  under  a  complex  sover- 
eignty, that  of  the  Crown  and  Parliament  of  England, 
and  of  a  private  proprietor,  both  essentially  extraneous  ; 
for  the  representative  of  the  Penn  family,  for  the  time 
being,  holding  the  title  and  the  position  of  its  Governor  by 
inheritance,  often  resided  in  the  mother  country.  These 
two  sovereignties  were  actuated  by  different  controlling 
motives.  The  Crown  and  Parliament  aimed  to  secure 
and  promote  the  power  of  the  empire  by  looking  after 
the  peaceful  subjection  and  welfare  of  the  Province. 
The  Penns  regarded  it  as  a  piece  of  property  out  of 
which  to  make  as  much  money  as  possible.  The  conse- 
quences of  this  state  of  things  were  injurious,  and  led  to 
a  feebleness  and  unsteadiness  of  administration  of  the 
affairs  of  the  Province,  which  aggravated  the  controversy 
going  on  in  its  remote  woods,  and,  in  fact,  crippled  the 
energies  of  the  people  generally.  It  was  not  until  years 
after  the  Penn  proprietary  had  been  swept  away,  and 
the  Revolution  been  in  progress,  that  the  inherent  forces 
of  that  State  were  developed  and  compacted.  For  this 
reason  the  British  found  it  expedient  to  make  it  one  of 
the  chief  theatres  of  the  war. 

The  government  of  Connecticut  took  all  possible 
means  to  induce  the  Penn  proprietors  to  make  an  ar- 
rangement with  them.     A  deputation  from  its  House  of 


208  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

Assembly  visited  Governor  Penn,  —  then  in  Philadelphia, 
and  vested  with  the  proprietary  power,  —  and  laid  pro- 
posals before  him.  But  he  refused  to  treat  with  them. 
An  agent  was  then  sent  by  Connecticut  to  England  to 
lay  the  case  before  the  home  government ;  and  a  judg- 
ment was  obtained  from  the  Lords  of  Council,  to  whom 
the  matter  had  been  referred,  which  seemed  to  be 
decisive  in  favor  of  Connecticut,  and  amply  apologizes 
for,  if  it  does  not  fully  justify,  her  claims,  and  the 
methods  subsequently  adopted  by  the  settlers  prior 
to  1782. 

In  the  mean  while,  the  Colony  of  Pennsylvania,  for  a 
large  consideration  in  money,  bought  out  the  Penn  pro- 
prietors. They  purchased  all  the  lands  belonging  to 
that  family  within  the  Colony.  No  reservation  was  made, 
and  no  attention  given,  in  this  purchase,  as  to  the  rights 
of  the  Connecticut  settlers.  The  controversy  thenceforth 
was  between  Pennsylvania  and  Connecticut,  much,  as 
was  found,  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  settlers.  For 
a  long  period  there  had  been  growing  and  spreading 
amon^  the  people  of  Pennsylvania  a  prejudice  against 
the  Penn  proprietors,  and  an  aversion  to  their  govern- 
ment, pretensions,  and  persons.  So  long  as  the  conflict 
for  those  lands  was  between  the  "  Yankees"  and  "  Penn- 
ymites,"  as  the  contending  parties  were  popularly  denom- 
inated at  the  time,  the  people  of  the  older  settlements 
of  Pennsylvania,  not  being  immediately  connected  with 
the  affair,  and  having  no  fondness  for  either  side,  were  not 
disposed  to  interfere,  but  quite  willing  to  stand  by,  and 
let  the  fight  go  on.  To  a  great  extent,  indeed,  there  was 
a  sympathy  between  the  people  of  the  frontier  counties 
and  the  Wyoming  settlers.     This  accounts  for  the  weak- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  209 

ness  of  the  resistance  made  by  that  Province,  and  its 
inaction,  for  much  of  the  time,  in  the  earlier  years  of  the 
controversy.  But  when  the  Penn  proprietors  disap- 
peared wholly  from  the  scene,  and  it  became  an  unmixed 
question  between  Pennsylvania  and  Connecticut,  all  the 
people  of  the  former  State  became  more  and  more  united 
in  maintaining  its  pretensions.  From  that  moment  the 
government  of  Pennsylvania  grew  stronger  in  its  position, 
and  capable  of  more  efficient  action.  Soon  almost  the 
entire  people  of  the  other  parts  of  that  State  were  aroused 
in  their  feelings  against  the  Connecticut  men,  and  were 
ultimately,  as  will  be  seen,  wrought  up  to  a  violence  of 
passion  against  them,  resulting  in  unwise  and  unjusti- 
fiable harshness  in  measures  of  administration  and  legis- 
lation. 

A  brief  recapitulation  of  the  principal  occurrences  in 
the  history  of  this  settlement  may  here  be  given.  It 
presents  a  series  of  disasters  and  endurances,  such  as 
no  other  people  ever  experienced.  It  shows  that  its 
heroic  and  indomitable  inhabitants  fairly  won,  by  their 
courage,  resolution,  and  sacrifices,  a  title  to  the  acres 
they  tilled  and  the  country  they  had  thus  made  their 
own. 

In  1763  the  population  of  several  hundreds  was 
driven  by  a  sudden  Indian  assault  from  the  territory, 
and  every  house  burned  to  the  ground  ;  such  of  their  oc- 
cupants, as  survived  the  murderous  onslaught,  escaping 
to  the  woods  and  mountains,  and  finding  their  way  back 
as  they  could  to  Connecticut.  This  was  the  first  de- 
struction that  fell  upon  the  settlement.  It  was  utter, 
and  supposed  to  be  final. 

Pennsylvania  thought  so.     For  some  time  the  terri- 

VoL.  II.  14 


210  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

tory  was  vacant.  The  government  of  the  Province, 
having  completed  the  negotiations  by  which  the  Penn 
proprietors  had  been  bought  out,  —  the  form  having 
previously  been  gone  through  of  purchasing  the  lands 
of  the  "  Six  Nations "  at  an  Indian  council,  some 
chiefs  siiifuins:  the  deed  of  sale,  —  executed  a  lease 
of  them  in  1768,  to  three  leading  citizens  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, for  seven  years,  who  proceeded  to  occupy  and 
manao^e  the  territorv.  Thev  built  a  trading  house  and 
fort.  All  this  while  the  Susquehanna  Company  and  the 
expelled  settlers  had  not  been  idle,  but  were  making 
their  preparations  and  awaiting  a  favorable  moment 
for   action. 

In  February,  1769,  an  advance  party  of  forty  men 
started  from  Connecticut  and  entered  ''  the  Valley,"  as 
the  disputed  territory  began  to  be  called.  They  invested 
the  fort,  which  was  in  charge  and  under  the  command 
of  John  Jennings,  one  of  the  three  lessees,  and  com- 
missioned as  Sheriff  by  the  Governor  of  Pennsvlvania. 
Jennings  sent  for  troops  to  relieve  him  ;  continual  acces- 
sions were  made  to  the  Connecticut  force  by  parties 
sent  on  from  that  Colony  ;  and  "  Fort  Forty,"  as  they 
called  it,  from  the  number  of  men  in  the  advanced 
detachment,  was  built  by  them,  and  became  the  point 
around  which  many  conflicts  took  place.  Jennings, 
having  been  re-enforced,  broke  into  the  fort,  and  made 
prisoners  of  most  of  the  garrison.  But  another  party 
of  two  hundred  men,  under  Captain  Durkee,  reaching 
the  Valley  from  Connecticut,  erected  another  fort,  called 
"  Durkee,"  with  a  large  number  of  block-houses  around 
it,  from  which  approaches  to  it  might  be  repelled  by 
musketry.     In  the  mean  while  the   Connecticut  forces 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  211 

had  increased  to  three  hundred  fighting  men,  and  Jen- 
nings gave  up  the  contest,  leaving  the  territory  in  their 
possession. 

Before  the  close  of  the  year,  however,  the  Connecti- 
cut men  were  again  driven  from  the  Valley  by  a  supe- 
rior force  of  Pennsvlvanians.  In  Februarv,  1770,  Lazarus 
Stewart,  —  who,  although  a  Pennsylvanian,  seems  to  have 
early  joined  the  settlers.  —  uniting  followers  of  his  own 
with  a  party  from  Connecticut,  recovered  the '  country, 
after  some  hard  fighting,  for  the  Yankees,  driving 
out  Captain  Ogden,  one  of  the  three  lessees.  In  a 
later  part  of  the  same  year,  Ogden,  —  a  strong  force 
beins:  rallied  bv  the  Governor  of  Pennsvlvania  to  aid 
him.  —  bv  a  sudden  assault,  drove  out  the  Yankees 
again.  On  the  night  of  the  18th  of  December,  Captain 
Lazarus  Stewart,  with  a  small  party,  attacked  the  fort, 
took  the  garrison  Ogden  had  left  there  by  surprise,  and 
the  Valley  was  again  in  the  possession  of  the  Connecticut 
men.  In  the  next  month,  January,  1771,  the  Sheriff 
of  Northampton  county,  with  a  large  body  of  men, 
entered  the  territory,  and  after  some  fighting,  in  which 
a  brother  of  Ogden  was  killed,  by  his  superior  numbers 
compelled  Stewart  to  take  refuge  in  the  fort ;  wdio  find- 
ing, however,  that  he  could  not  hold  it,  withdrew  in  the 
night,  leaving  'the  Pennymites  once  more  in  possession 
of  the  Valley,  who  held  it  for  six  months.  On  the  6th 
of  July,  Captain  Zebulon  Butler,  who  had  a  few  years 
before  united  his  fortunes  with  the  settlers,  coming  from 
Connecticut  with  seventy  men,  and  joined  by  a  party 
under  Lazarus  Stewart,  suddenly  descended  from  the 
mountains.  He  compelled  Ogden  to  retreat  into  his 
fort,  and  commenced  a  vigorous  siege  of  it,  in  the  course 


212  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

of  which  many  were  killed.  Ogden  -^himself  escaped 
from  it.  making:  his  way  to  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania, 
to  obtain  re-enforcement.  On  the  11th  of  August 
Butler  summoned  the  garrison  to  surrender,  which  it 
felt  compelled  to  do.  On  the  14th  a  force,  sent  from 
Philadelphia  to  relieve  the  fort,  had  arrived  within  two 
miles  of  it ;  but  it  was  too  late.  The  Connecticut  people 
held  the  valley  ever  after. 

Seldom,  if  ever,  was  a  country  so  fought  for  or  suf- 
fered for  as  this.  Without  taking  into  account  the 
assault  by  Indians  in  1763,  when,  after  a  frightful  car- 
nage, the  whole  residue  of  the  inhabitants  were  com- 
pelled to  abandon  it  entirely,  and  without  anticipating 
the  mention  of  a  far  more  awful  ruin  inflicted  upon  it 
in  1778,  but  confining  the  view  to  the  conflicts  between 
the  Connecticut  settlers  and  the  government  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  the  brief  period  of  two  and  a  half  years,  from 
February,  1769,  to  August,  1771,  four  times  the  Con- 
necticut men  were  expelled,  and  four  times  they 
returned,  the  last  to  a  final  triumph.  Each  time  they 
traversed  a  distance  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles, 
through  woods  and  over  mountains.  The  indestructible 
energy,  unconquerable  resolution,  and  heroic  bravery 
they  evinced,  were  characteristic  of,  and  do  honor  to, 
their  race.  These  fluctuating  events,  in  the  warfare  for 
dominion  over  the  Valley,  illustrated  indeed  the  bravery 
and  prowess  of  both  contending  parties.  They  were 
accompanied,  all  along,  by  much  loss  of  life,  alternate 
destruction  of  property,  and  untold  personal  hardships 
and  sufl*erings. 

After  this  the  Connecticut  settlers  held  the  country 
without  serious  molestation  from  Pennsylvania,  with  the 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  213 

exception  of  an  attack  made  from  the  county  contigu- 
ous to  them,  lower  down  the  river,  the  Sheriff  of  which, 
at  the  head  of  a  large  body  of  men,  endeavored  to  reach 
Wyoming,  but  was  easily  repulsed.  Once  more,  too, 
the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania  attempted  to  dislodge 
them,  but  in  vain.  He  raised  a  more  powerful  force 
than  ever  before  ;  but  the  brave  settlers  ambuscaded  it 
on  its  approach,  defeated,  and  effectually  repulsed  it. 
The  government  of  that  Province  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  there  was  no  use  in  trying  to  subjugate  the  Wyom- 
ing people.  A  then  pathless  forest  lay  between  the 
seat  of  government  and  more  peopled  districts  and 
that  settlement.  Its  inhabitants,  too,  had  become  so 
formidable  in  numbers  and  spirit  as  to  make  it  inex- 
pedient to  attempt  to  subdue  them  by  any  organ- 
ized movement  in  arms  against  their  forts,  hamlets,  or 
farms.  Neither  could  Pennsvlvania  extend  her  civil 
jurisdiction  over  them.  Any  one  appearing  to  execute 
legal  processes,  by  her  authority,  was  met  by  prompt 
and  defiant  resistance.  Xo  sheriff  or  tax-gatherer  of 
hers  was  suffered  to  enter  the  territorv.  It  held  itself 
free  from  Pennsylvania,  and  practically  was  equally  free 
from  Connecticut,  the  great  distance  of  which  prevented 
the  settlers  being  reached  by  an  arm  of  power,  or,  as 
was  sadly  acknowledged  at  a  future  crisis,  of  protection. 
The  two  contesting  governments  could  do  little  more 
than  pass  declaratory  resolutions  and  inoperative  legis- 
lative acts.  Some  local  skirmishes  and  small  affrays 
may  have  taken  place  here  and  there,  occasionally, 
but  no  considerable  move  was  made  or  incident  oc- 
curred to  disturb  the  quiet  or  independence  of  the 
people. 


214  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

The  period  between  1771  and  1778  were  the  hal- 
cyon days  of  Wyoming.  Its  fields  were  clothed  with 
beauty,  and  gave  forth  their  abundance.  The  commu- 
nity combined  and  exhibited  all  the  elements  of  a  repub- 
lic and  a  democracy.  Without  the  artificial  and  costly 
machinery  of  other  governments,  the  people  themselves 
exercised  all  the  healthy  and  desirable  functions  of  a 
legislature,  executive,  and  judiciary. 

The  all-absorbing  discussions  and  agitations  that  were 
for  some  years  drawing  the  Colonies  into  the  vortex  of  a 
fearful,  fast-approaching,  and  desperate  conflict  in  arms 
with  the  mother  country,  diverted  attention  from  these 
distant  backwoodsmen  ;  and  they  were  left  for  the  time 
in  neglect,  contentment,  and  prosperity. 

During  this  interval  they  increased  and  multiplied 
wonderfully.  The  beautiful  features  of  the  region  they 
occupied,  the  fertility  of  its  soil,  and  the  excellent  state 
of  morals  and  manners  among  them,  attracted  many  to 
join  them.  It  is  understood  that  the  story  of  the  Arca- 
dian pastoral  simplicity  and  happy  tranquillity  of  their 
lives,  enjoying  an  independence  in  their  condition  be- 
yond the  power  of  any  exterior  government,  and  real- 
izing the  fondest  dreams  of  agricultural  felicity  and 
liberty,  was  borne  to  distant  lands,  and  drew  emigrants 
from  foreis^n  nations  to  share  their  favored  lot.  The 
Transatlantic  poet,  while  meditating  upon  the  tragic 
horrors  that  subsequently  burst  upon  this  devoted  peo- 
ple, gave  utterance  to  the  traditions  that  had  reached 
his  ears  of  their  previous  happiness. 

"  On  Susquehanna's  side,  fair  Wyoming! 
Although  the  wild-flower,  on  thy  ruined  wall, 
And  roofless  homes,  a  sad  remembrance  bring 
Of  what  thy  gentle  people  did  befall; 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  215 

Yet  thou  wert  once  the  loveliest  land  of  all 
That  see  the  Atlantic  wave  thy  morn  restore, 
Sweet  land !  may  I  thy  lost  deUghts  recall, 
And  paint  thy  Gertrude  in  her  bowers  of  yore, 
Whose  beauty  was  the  love  of  Pennsylvania's  shore." 

"  That  Pennsylvanian  home, 
With  all  its  picturesque  and  balmy  grace, 
And  fields  that  were  a  luxury  to  roam." 

*'  Delightful  Wyoming  !  beneath  thy  skies, 
The  happy  shepherd  swains  had  nought  to  do 
But  feed  their  flocks  on  green  declivities." 

The  poet  goes  on  to  specify  the  diiFerent  nationali- 
ties, gathered  harmoniously  on  this  then  favored  spot. 

*'  For  here  the  exile  met  from  every  clime, 
And  spoke  in  friendship  every  distant  tongue 
Men  from  the  blood  of  warring  Europe  sprung 
Were  but  divided  by  the  running  brook." 

"  The  blue-eyed  German  changed  his  sword  to  pruning-hook. 
Not  far,  some  Andalusian  saraband 
Would  sound  to  many  a  native  roundelay." 

**  Alas  !  poor  Caledonia's  mountaineer 
That  want's  stern  edict  e'er,  and  feudal  grief, 
Had  forced  him  from  a  home  he  loved  so  dear ! 
Yet  found  he  here  a  home  and  glad  relief." 

"  And  England  sent  her  men,  of  men  the  chief, 
Who  taught  those  sires  of  Empire,  yet  to  be, 
To  plant  the  tree  of  life,  —  to  plant  fair  Freedom's  tree." 

However  much  allowance  is  to  be  made  for  the  enthu- 
siasm or  the  fancy  of  the  poet,  it  is  not  to  be  doubted 
that  the  Wyoming  settlement  was,  at  this  particular 
period,  a  favorite  point  to  which  immigration  turned. 
The  names  of  its  inhabitants,  which  have  happened  to  be 
mentioned,  have  a  considerable  admixture,  indicating  a 
foreign  and  various  origin.  Xeither  is  it  to  be  doubted 
that  the  settlement  experienced  a  rapid  and  marvel- 
lously happy  and  vigorous  growth.  The  facts  and  fig- 
ures   of  history    prove    this.     At   the    opening  of  the 


216  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

Revolutionary  war  it  was  divided  into  several  town- 
ships, and  some  estimate  may  be  formed  of  its  population 
from  the  statement  made  at  the  time,  that  it  sent  a 
thousand  men  to  serve  in  the  Continental  army  * 

But  so  far  as  its  condition  had  become  desirable  from 
the  circumstance  that  it  had  no  government  to  sustain, 
except  for  mere  neighborhood  regulations,  paid  no  taxes 
to  either  State  that  claimed  it,  and  kept  itself  free  from 
the  control  of  both  of  them,  it  was  soon  called  to  pay 
dearly  for  the  privilege.  While  it  repelled  their  power, 
it  lost  their  protection.  When  the  hour  of  danger  came 
no  help  could  be  expected  from  either ;  and  when  Con- 
gress was  appealed  to,  the  reply  was  that,  until  it  was 
agreed  to  which  State  they  belonged,  it  was  difficult  for 
the  United  States,  as  such,  to  know  how  to  act  in  the 
premises.  Congress  made  the  most  earnest  appeals  to 
all  concerned  to  settle  their  disagreements,  but  without 
effect,   as  neither  party  was  willing  to  recede  from  its 


*  This  estimate  of  tlie  population  in  round  numbers  Avas  made  by  writers  of 
the  Revolutionary  period.  It  is  not  by  any  means  certain  that  it  was  an  over- 
estimate. An  aggregate  enumeration  of  the  people,  about  the  time  that  war 
broke  out,  not  including,  however,  the  entire  territory,  gave  2,500.  But  owing 
to  tlie  peculiar  circumstances  in  the  history'  of  tlie  VaUey,  the  proportion  of 
males  was  very  much  greater  than  in  ordinary  communities.  Many  of  the 
females,  driven  at  different  times  out  of  the  settlements,  had  not  returned.  Ad- 
venturous young  men  constituted  a  large  part  of  the  population.  From  the 
numbers  enrolled  in  the  several  companies  raised  there,  the  frequent  mention 
of  considerable  parties  of  recruits  in  the  place,  the  fact  that  men  had  gone 
thence  and  joined  companies  enlisted  elsewhere,  and  that  there  were  about  three 
hundred  old  men  and  youth  brought  into  array,  at  the  fatal  day  of  the  3d  of 
July,  1778,  it  is  not  improbable,  all  things  considered,  that  Wyoming  afforded 
to  tlie  country,  in  the  period  of  tlie  Revolution,  not  far  from  1,000  men.  They 
were  in  many  of  the  hardest  fought  battles  of  the  war.  The  number  known 
to  have  been  slain  gives  countenance  to  that  figure,  so  also  does  the  fact  that 
on  the  4th  of  September,  1832,  more  tlian  fifty  years  after  the  armies  of  the 
Revolution  were  raised,  thirty-one  soldiers  who  had  served  in  those  armies,  be- 
longmg  to  Luzerne  County,  met  in  the  Court-house  at  Wilkesbarre.  There 
were  other  Revolutionary  soldiers,  not  at  the  meeting,  then  living  in  the  county. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  217 

pretensions,  and  the  Valley  remained  independent  but 
exposed.  Suffering  no  outside  jurisdiction,  it  could  not 
expect  outside  defence.  This  made  it  helpless  to  resist 
the  storm  of  war  then  raging  over  the  Continent,  and  in 
fact  attracted  the  bolt  that  fell  upon  it.  The  undefended 
and  indefensible  condition  of  the  Wvomino^  settlement 
was  seen  by  the  common  enemy,  and  may  be  considered 
as  the  occasion  of  a  ruin  more  terrible  than  any  other 
part  of  the  country  experienced.  The  destruction  of 
the  Wyoming  settlement  in  1778  may  therefore  be 
regarded  as  part  and  parcel  of  the  land  controversy, 
which  it  is  the  purpose  of  this  chapter  to  sketch. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  John  Butler,  living,  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  Revolution,  on  the  Mohawk,  a  Loyalist  and 
Refugee,  in  command  of  British  troops,  was  stationed  in 
the  West,  with  his  head-quarters  at  Niagara.  He  was 
an  active  officer ;  and  devoted  himself  to  acquiring  an 
ascendencv  over  surroundins:  Indian  tribes,  with  the 
view  of  rendering  them  hostile  to  the  United  States, 
and  consolidatino:  their  strens^th  on  the  side  of  the 
mother  country.  He  held  counsel  with  their  great 
chieftain.  Brant,  and  other  heads  of  tribes.  The  ques- 
tion where,  when,  and  how,  to  strike  the  American  Col- 
onies and  settlements,  was  the  subject  of  consideration 
among  them,  and  led  to  frequent  expeditions  and 
assaults.  In  1778,  a  powerful  blow  was  concerted 
and  effected.  The  point  of  attack  was  the  Wyoming 
villages,  at  which  they  directly  aimed,  and  by  rapid 
movements  reached,  taking  them  almost  entirely  by 
surprise.  The  force  led  by  Butler,  all  told,  was  sup- 
posed to  be  1,600  men,  consisting  of  British  regulars, 
armed   Tories,  and  Indian  warriors  starting  with  it  or 


218  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

joining  on  the  way.  They  seem  to  have  traversed  the 
intervening  country,  then  a  wilderness,  in  a  straight 
direction  to  their  mark,  and  had  nearly  reached  it 
before  intelligence  of  their  approach  was  received. 
The  suspicions  and  alarm  of  the  settlers  were  first 
roused  by  noticing  the  disappearance  of  certain  violent 
Tories,  of  \\hom  there  had  been  a  number  among  them, 
—  a  very  few  belonging  to  their  original  company, 
most  of  them  miscellaneous  immigrants  from  vari- 
ous quarters.  They  had,  in  fact,  gone  to  meet  and 
co-operate  with  the  invaders.  The  arrival  of  Butler  and 
his  hordes  of  allies,  at  Tioga,  was  soon  announced,  and 
the  settlers  prepared  for  defence.  Most  of  their  able- 
bodied  men  were  absent  in  the  Continental  army.  But 
the  elderly  men  and  invalids,  and  boys  old  enough  to 
serve,  flew  to  arms.  Organization  was  necessary,  but 
the  time  was  short. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Zebulon  Butler,  whose  regiment 
was  connected  with  the  main  body  of  the  Continental 
army,  happened,  at  this  time,  to  be  at  home  on  a  visit 
of  a  few  days.  The  whole  body  of  the  people,  with 
such  military  persons  as  were  among  them,  unanimously 
beo:2:ed  him  to  assume  command,  which  he  did.  So 
that  the  sinsjular  coincidence  occurred  that  the  two 
armies  were  led  by  men  of  the  same  name,  title,  and 
rank.  They  were  gallant  and  able  officers,  and,  as  was 
believed  by  some,  both  natives  of  Connecticut,  but 
always   of   opposite   politics. 

Zebulon  Butler  was  born  at  Lyme  in  Connecticut,  in 
1731.  In  the  Colonial  war  against  the  French  and 
Indians,  he  entered  the  army  as  an  Ensign,  and  rose 
to    the    rank  of    Captain,  when  he  resigned    his  com- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  219 

mission.  He  had  seen  much  service,  and  was  an  ex- 
perienced soldier,  having  been  at  Ticonderoga,  Crown 
Point,  and  in  the  expedition  to  Havana.  He  had  fixed 
his  home  at  Wvomins^  in  1769,  and  led  back  from  Con- 
necticut  the  force  that  in  1771  finally  recovered  it. 

Colonel  John  Butler,  having  prior  to  the  Revolution 
lived  for  some  time  in  the  Mohawk  Valley,  where  he 
had  a  large  estate,  must  have  known  all  about  the 
Wyoming  land  controversy,  and  in  this  is  seen  the  reason 
why  that  point  w^as  selected  for  his  attack.  He  knew 
that  the  settlements  were  unprotected,  that  neither 
Pennsylvania  nor  Connecticut  could  come  to  their  aid, 
and  that  Congress  had  not  taken  them  under  its  wing. 
Further,  it  may  be  supposed  that  he  w^as  actuated  by 
that  violence  of  hatred  and  resentment,  which  the 
rough  usage  they  had  met  with  had  aroused  in  the 
breasts  of  some  of  the  Tories.  As  he  could  not  reach 
Connecticut,  against  which,  if  he  had  been  driven  from 
it,  he  may  have  been  aggravated,  possibly  he  took  par- 
ticular satisfaction  in  striking  at  this  off-shoot  of  that 
Colony.  This  may  explain  why  he  was  willing  to  lead 
such  a  barbarous  onslaught  upon  a  people  of  his  ow^n 
lineage. 

Upon  assuming  command  Colonel  Zebulon  Butler  im- 
mediately made  all  possible  preparations  to  resist  the 
approaching  foe.  lie  was  aided  in  his  arrangements 
by  Colonel  Denison  of  the  Wyoming  militia,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Dorrance,  and  some  officers  of  the  Continental 
army  who  happened  to  arrive  at  the  moment.  He  gath- 
ered as  many  of  the  women  and  children,  as  could  be 
collected,  into  a  fort.  On  the  2d  of  July  the  enemy 
entered  the  Valley  and  slaughtered  some  of  the  out-set- 


220  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERIXG. 

tiers.  On  the  morning  of  the  3d  a  messenger  was 
despatched  to  Colonel  Pickering  of  the  Board  of  War, 
informing  him  of  the  impending  danger  and  calling  for 
aid.  Dividing  his  force  of  about  three  hundred  men,  in- 
cluding the  aged  and  the  young,  into  six  companies,  But- 
ler marched  out,  about  noon,  and  the  battle  commenced. 
It  was  a  hotly  contested  fight,  and  might,  as  has  been 
thought,  have  resulted  in  a  victory  of  the  settlers,  not- 
withstanding tlie  disparity  of  force,  had  not  an  order, 
given  by  the  Captain  of  one  of  the  companies,  been  mis- 
understood. Seeing  the  necessity  of  altering  the  position 
of  his  men  to  protect  them,  at  a  particular  crisis  of  the 
battle,  from  a  cross-fire,  and  to  make  their  own  tire 
more  effective,  he  directed  them  to  fall  back.  The 
order  and  the  movement  were  misinterpreted  into  a 
retreat,  which  at  once  took  effect :  confusion,  disorder, 
and  panic  prevailed.  The  mischief  was  irretrievable, 
and  a  general  rout  the  result.  The  slaughter  that  en- 
sued was  dreadful.  Denison  and  a  remnant  of  his  com- 
mand succeeded  in  regaining  the  fort,  which,  however, 
he  was  compelled  to  surrender  the  next  day.  Carnage 
and  conflagration  reigned  throughout  the  Valley.  The 
houses  of  all  except  the  Tories  were  burned.  It  was 
said  that,  during  the  fight  and  afterwards,  nearly  two 
hundred  of  the  women  of  Wyoming  were  made  widows. 
Such  as  survived,  including  those  surrendered  with  the 
fort,  fled  to  the  woods,  and  made  their  wav  to  Connect- 
icut  or  elsewhere.  The  sufferings  of  the  fugitives, 
mostlv  women  and  children,  on  their  wav.  were  extreme. 
With  but  few  men  to  guide  and  guard  them,  without 
shelter  or  provisions,  of  all  ages  and  conditions  of 
health  or  strength,  the  tales  that  were  told  of  their  en- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  221 

durances,  among  the  mountains  and  in  the  wilderness, 
make  their  story  one  of  tlie  saddest  and  most  trao^ical 
in  the  annals  of  history.  As  such  it  has  ever  been 
regarded. 

Colonel  Zebulon  Butler  effected  his  escape  from  the 
Valley,  and  despatched  an  account  of  the  catastrophe  to 
Colonel  Pickering,  whose  letters  in  reply  to  those  of 
Butler  are  here  given.  They  illustrate  what  has  been 
said,  as  to  the  fact  that  both  Pennsylvania  and  Connect- 
icut were  incapable  of  rendering  aid  to  prevent  the  mis- 
chief, in  consequence  of  the  controversy,  to  which  they 
were  the  parties,  about  the  jurisdiction  over  that  territory. 
Connecticut  men  in  Congress  were,  as  Pickering  says, 
"  at  a  loss"  lo  know  what  they  could  do  in  the  crisis,  and 
Pennsylvania  was  powerless  at  that  point  of  her  frontier. 
Colonel  John  Butler  well  knew  that  the  circumstances 
of  that  territory  were  '•  singular  "  in  this  respect;  and,  for 
this  reason,  he  selected  it  as  the  point  of  attack. 

"  War  Office,  July  10th,  1778. 
"SlK, 

"  I  received  your  letter  of  the  3d  instant,  relative  to  the 
invasion  of  the  Indians,  and  have  since  heard  the  engage- 
ment you  expected,  actually  took  place,  and  greatly  to  the 
advantajie  of  the  enemv.  The  letter,  with  the  additional 
information,  was  laid  before  Congress,  and  I  hoped  they 
would  have  given  some  order  for  relieving  you  ;  but,  as  yet, 
nothing  has  been  done.  Congress  have  been  engaged  in  busi- 
ness of  very  great  consequence.  I  have  conversed  with  the 
delegates  from  Connecticut,  but  they,  as  well  as  others,  are  at 
a  loss  to  determine  what  measures  are  best  to  be  pursued.  A 
small  force  of  Continental  troops,  unless  joined  by  the  militia 
of  this  State,  would  be  unequal  to  the  enemy  invading  you ;  and 
to  detach  a  large  force  from  the  army  may  be  inconvenient ;  and 
either  would  probably  arrive  too  late  ;  for  the  enemy  will  not 
stay  long  in  your  borders,  especially  when  they  are  informed 


222  LIFK   OF   TIMOTHY  I'lCKERING. 

that  the  Britisli  have  evacuated  Pliihidelphia,  and  that,  in 
their  retreat  throiigli  the  Jerseys,  we  gained  a  victory  over 
them,  ill  which,  and  by  desertions  since  they  left  the  city, 
and  fatigues  and  skirmishes  on  their  march,  they  have  lost 
full  three  thousand  men.  I  am  anxious  to  hear  of  your 
present  situation,  which  I  hope  is  not  so  dangerous  as  the 
last  reports  represented  it.  If  the  enemy  have  invested  your 
fort,  and  you  can  hold  it  long  enough,  surely  Congress  will 
order  up  a  force,  sufficient  to  relieve  you.  The  savages,  I 
trust,  will  ere  long  find  sufficient  employment  in  their  own 
countries,  and  repent  of  their  union  with  the  falling  power 
of  Britain  ;  for,  if  the  Indians  persist  in  tlieir  hostilities,  the 
resentment  of  the  United  States  will  not  cool  till  those  bar- 
barians are  exterminated  from  the  earth.  I  hope  soon  to 
receive  further  information  of  the  state  of  your  settlement. 
This  afternoon  there  wdll  be  a  board,  for  the  express  pur- 
pose of  devising  some  measures  for  your  assistance. 

"I  am,  Sir,  j^ours, 

''T.  Pickering." 

^^  ^  "War  Office,  Philadelphia,  July  15th,  1778. 

"  Your  melancholy  account  of  the  fate  of  Wyoming,  I 
received  by  Mr.  Williams.  I  regret  that  measures  were  not 
earlier  taken  for  tlie  relief  of  that  and  the  other  settlements 
on  the  frontiers.  Something  effectual  would  have  been  done, 
in  any  other  State  than  this,  by  the  people  themselves  or 
their  executive  powder.  But  the  circumstances  of  this  State 
are  singular  on  many  accounts.  At  length  orders  are  issued 
for  assembling  immediately  considerable  bodies  of  militia  at 
Standing  Stone,  Sunbury,  and  Easton.  The  latter  I  hope 
will  be  strengthened  by  the  Jersey  militia,  which,  I  hear, 
have  been  ordered  out  against  the  Indians.  The  Commissary 
has  been  directed  to  appoint  proper  persons  to  supply  these 
troops  with  provisions.  To  encourage  the  militia,  and  to 
give  some  certain  and  immediate  relief  to  the  frontiers,  Colo- 
nel Hartley's  regiment  is  ordered  to  march  to  Sunbury  (for 
'tis  apprehended  the  enemy  from  AYyoming  will  take  that 
course),  except  a  detachment  of  about  eighty,  who  escorted 
some  prisoners   of  war  to  Brunswick,  and  will  march  from 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  223 

thence  to  Easton,  as  soon  as  the  express,  who  set  off  this 
morning,  can  reach  them.  At  Easton  they  will  receive 
further  orders,  either  to  join  their  regiment  at  Sunbiny,  or 
the  troops  on  Delaware,  as  the  movements  of  the  enemy  shall 
render  expedient. 

"  We  are  informed  that  Colonel  Kowatz,  with  part  of 
General  Pulaski's  corps  is  at  Fort  Penn.  Captain  Spauld- 
ing's  company,  you  hear,  is  on  Delaware  :  I  should  think  it 
advisable  for  you,  with  such  troops  as  are  with  you,  to  join  it. 
You  will  co-operate  with  the  Continental  troops  and  militia 
which  shall  be  collected,  and  concert  with  the  commanding 
oiBficers  the  most  effectual  measures  for  stopping  the  further 
ravages  of  the  enemy.  You  can  best  judge  on  the  spot  to 
what  quarter  you  should  march  ;  the  numbers  and  move- 
ments of  tlie  enemy  must  direct  you.  I  am  convinced  that 
motives  of  honor,  as  well  as  duty,  will  prompt  you  to  exert 
your  utmost  ability  to  promote  the  common  good,  and  save 
the  distressed  frontier.  Ammunition  and  some  arms  will  be 
sent  to  the  different  frontier  counties,  as  soon  as  the  Council 
of  this  State  have  informed  the  Board  what  quantities  they 
shall  want  for  the  militia,  1,900  of  whom  they  have  ordered 
out  in  the  whole. 

"  I  have  the  satisfaction  to  inform  you  that  Monsieur 
Girard,  Minister  from  the  Court  of  France,  is  arrived  here. 
He  came  in  a  fleet  of  men-of-war,  commanded  bv  the  Count 
D'Estaing,  of  which  eleven  are  capital  ships.  This  fleet  is, 
before  this  time,  arrived  at  Sandy  Hook,  and  we  hope  soon 
to  hear  of  the  capture  of  the  British  fleet,  Avhich  is  greatl}'' 
inferior  to  that  of  the  French.  General  Washington,  with  the 
main  army,  is  probably  now  crossing  the  North  River.  There 
is  the  highest  reason  to  believe  that  he,  by  land,  and  the 
French  Admiral  by  sea,  will  coop  up  the  enemy  at  New 
York,  and  make  prisoners  of  the  whole.  We  shall  then  be  at 
leisure  to  chastise  the  savages,  and  the  barbarous  villains 
who  have  led  and  joined  them  in  laying  waste  our  frontiers. 
*'  I  am.  Sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 

"  T.  Pickering. 

"Lieutenant-Colonel  Zebulox  Butler." 


224  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

Incidental  expressions,  and  the  general  tenor  of 
these  letters,  show  the  bearing  of  the  controversy  for 
the  Wyoming  territory  upon  the  military  operations  of 
the  time,  and  its  effect  in  rendering  that  frontier  de- 
fenceless. Congress  was  prevented  from  exercising 
such  powers  as  it  had.  It  was  composed  of  delegates 
from  the  States  severally,  and  had  no  pretence  of  juris- 
diction outside  of  them.  It  was  a  question,  then  un- 
decided, to  which  of  two  of  its  equal  component  States 
the  territory  belonged.  It  was  felt  to  be  inexpedient 
for  Congress  to  incur  the  dissatisfaction  of  either  of 
them.  It  withheld  from  attempting  to  adjudge,  much 
more  from  taking  action  against,  one  or  the  other.  The 
Commander-in-Chief  had  to  pursue  the  same  line  of 
action.  Pennsylvania  could  not  shelter  the  territory, 
because  its  inhabitants  did  not  suifer  her  to  extend  her 
authority,  civil  or  military,  over  them.  It  is  not  to  be 
charged  to  her  discredit,  therefore,  that,  as  Pickering 
says,  the  Wyoming  massacre  could  not  have  occurred  in 
anv  other  State.  She  was  not  to  blame  for  it.  The 
singular  circumstance  in  her  position,  to  which  he 
chieflv  alluded,  was  that  she  was  not  allowed  to  make 
any  effectual  resistance  to  the  invaders.  Neither  the 
militia  of  her  other  counties,  nor  any  force  organized  by 
her  Executive,  could  hold,  or  pass  the  bounds  of,  the 
disputed  region.  They  had  tried  it,  over  and  over 
again,  and  been  repulsed.  The  delegates  from  Connect- 
icut would  have  objected  to  the  occupation  of  the 
settlement  by  an  armed  force  from  Pennsylvania  on  any 
pretext ;  and,  when  the  crisis  came,  they  did  not  call 
upon  that  State  to  go  to  the  rescue,  but  were  "  at  a  loss  " 
what    to    advise    or    devise.     It  appears,   further,  that 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  225 

when  Congress  was  compelled,  by  the  horrible  atroci- 
ties committed  at  Wyoming,  to  repel  the  British  with 
their  sa'v^age  allies,  from  the  country,  and  organized  a 
large  force  to  do  it,  they  did  not  send  it  into  the  Valley, 
but  appointed  the  several  rendezvous  of  the  troops  at 
points  quite  distant  from  Wyoming,  —  at  Easton,  in  the 
county  of  Northampton ;  Sunbury,  in  the  county  of 
Northumberland,  just  within  the  southern  line  of  the 
district  claimed  by  the  settlers  ;  and  at  Standing  Stone, 
in  the  county  of  Bradford  and  not  far  within  its  north- 
ern line,  —  each  some  sixty  miles  from  the  centre  and 
heart  of  the  settlement.  So  unwilling  was  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States,  even  then,  to  do  any  thing 
that  would  compromise  the  policy  of  neutral  inaction 
and  non-interference.  It  will  be  seen  that  General 
Washington,  some  years  afterwards,  felt  it  necessary,  in 
conformity  with  instructions  from  Congress  to  this  effect, 
to  follow  the  same  course  in  his  military  orders  and 
proceedings. 

These  facts  and  considerations  are  presented  as  re- 
quired by  justice  to  Congress,  and  to  the  administration 
and  people  of  Pennsylvania,  in  explanation  of  their  inac- 
tion on  the  emergency.  The  invasion  of  the  country 
by  the  British  and  Indians,  at  that  particular  point, 
and  their  dreadful  outrages  in  the  Valley;  their  being 
permitted  to  accomplish  the  fell  design,  and  to  escape 
unpunished  at  the  time,  — are  wholly  owing  to  the  con- 
troversy between  Pennsylvania  and  Connecticut.  The 
responsibility  and  the  blame  are  due  to  the  parties  to 
that  controversy   as    such,  and  to  them  alone. 

The  main  body  of  the  enemy's  force  left  the  country 
after  completing  its  devastation.     A  few  of  the  surviving 

Vol.  II.  15 


226  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

settlers  came  back,  but  it  was  found  to  be  unsafe.  They 
were  shot  down  in  the  fields  by  savages,  who  remained  in 
small  parties  prowling  stealthily  through  the  woods.  The 
Valley  continued  substantially  depopulated  during  the 

year. 

Captain  Spaulding,  mentioned  by  Colonel  Picker- 
ing, immediately  marched  to  the  deserted  territory, 
and  strengthened  the  fort.  He  was  a  Wyoming  man. 
Colonel  Hartley,  according  to  orders  given  him,  as  stated 
bv  Pickering,  marched  his  regiment,  which  was  of  the 
Pennsylvania  line,  to  Sunbury.  The  strong  language 
in  which  Pickering  urged  Colonel  Zebulon  Butler,  with 
such  of  the  Wyoming  men  as  had  escaped  and  could  be 
collected,  to  "  co-operate  "  with  Hartley  "  for  the  com- 
mon good,  and  save  the  distressed  froTitier,"  is  noticeable. 
Butler  felt  the  appeal  to  his  "  motives  of  honor  as  well 
as  duty,"  and  all  questions  of  jurisdiction  were  forgot- 
ten. At  the  head  of  his  Wyoming  men,  he  joined 
Hartley,  and,  with  their  united  forces,  they  scoured  the 
Valley.  In  Bradford  county,  they  fought  and  defeated  a 
part  of  the  Indian  army  that  had  been  left  there,  dis- 
persed them,  and  recovered  some  of  the  plunder  that 
had  been  brought  from  Wyoming.  By  the  close  of 
September  they  had  driven  the  Indians  out  of  the  Valley, 
and  Hartley  left  the  territory. 

The  government  of  the  United  States  now  concluded 
that  strong  measures  had  become  necessary  to  give 
security  to  the  frontiers,  and  prevent  such  attacks  for 
the  future.  Congress,  the  Board  of  War,  and  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, upon  full  consideration  and  consul- 
tation, matured  their  plans.  The  expedition,  under 
General  John  Sullivan,  was  organized  so  as  to  take  the 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  227 

field  the  next  year.  It  moved  in  two  divisions,  —  one 
through  New  York,  under  General  Clinton :  the  main 
body  under  Sullivan's  immediate  command.  A  part  of 
his  force  ascended  the  Susquehanna  in  boats  ;  and  part 
crossed  the  country  on  a  road  which  it  built  as  it  ad- 
vanced from  Easton,  through  Stoddardsville,  passing  the 
Blue  Mountains  at  Wind-gap,  a  remarkable  depression 
on  their  summit,  and  reaching  Wyoming,  June  23d, 
1779,  its  place  of  rendezvous.  x\fter  encamping  there  for 
some  time,  preparations  were  completed,  and  Sullivan 
started  on  the  work  assigned  him.  The  troops  marched 
by  the  banks,  and  the  boats  ascended  the  river.  They 
came  out  of  their  encampment  on  the  '31st  of  July,  with 
a  salvo  of  artillery,  and  proceeded  under  the  inspiring 
strains  of  lively  martial  music,  which,  however,  was 
changed  to  dirge  and  dead-march,  as  they  reached  and 
slowly  moved  over  the  battle-field  and  slaughter-ground 
of  the  year  before.  On  the  22d  of  xVugust,  Chnton  joined 
the  column  at  Tioga ;  and  the  entire  army  of  SuUivan, 
amounting  to  four  thousand  men,  advanced  to  administer 
effectual  chastisement  to  the  Indians.  The  savages, 
under  Brant,  aided  bv  the  British  under  Sir  John  John- 
son,  John  Butler,  and  other  Tory  leaders,  made  resolute 
resistance.  Much  hard  and  long  fighting  took  place, 
but  Sullivan  finally  conquered  and  scattered  them.  He 
then  swept  through  the  country  to  the  Genessee  River, 
destroying  on  his  path,  and  far  and  wide,  the  camps, 
crops,  stores,  and  houses  of  the  Indians.  The  punish- 
ment was  complete.  It  struck  terror  through  all  the 
tribes,  and  impressed  them  with  a  salutary  sense  of  the 
power  of  the  United  States.  Indian  forays,  under  British 
guidance,  took    place   afterwards   on   different   frontier 


228  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  ♦ 

settlements,  but  none  so  formidable  or  destructive  as 
that  against  Wyoming,  in  1778.  The  Valley  itself 
was  thenceforth  secure  from  any  considerable  assault,  al- 
though occasional  irregular  and  murderous  inroads  were 
made  by  small  parties  of  savages. 

The  expedition  under  Sullivan  accomplished  its  pur- 
pose. Some  complained  of  the  slowness  of  its  prep- 
aration. Few  realize  the  extent  of  the  arrangements 
necessary  to  move  a  large  army,  with  its  provisions,  equip- 
ments, and  appendages  through  a  wide  wilderness. 
Sullivan  was  wise  in  not  starting  until  he  was  ready. 
Others  complained  that  he  did  not  carry  havoc  farther, 
and  extend  his  march  to  Niagara.  But  there  were 
good  and  sufficient  reasons  for  his  stopping  and  return- 
ing w^hen  he  did.  The  longer  absence  of  so  large  a 
portion  of  the  Continental  army  from  the  chief  fields  of 
its  operations  was  not  expedient.  Upon  the  whole,  this 
Indian  campaign  was  most  useful,  and  its  entire  conduct 
reflects  the  highest  credit  upon  its  commander  and  all 
under  his  orders. 

No  part  of  the  military  history  of  the  Revolution  is 
less  appreciated  or  more  misunderstood  than  this.  It  is 
regarded  as  an  eccentric  diversion  from  the  regular  course 
of  the  war.  It  is  looked  upon  as  an  unwarranted  and 
needless  devastation  of  Indian  settlements.  Some  persons 
are  horrified  by  the  utter  destruction  Sullivan  dealt  upon 
the  cornfields  and  habitations  of  the  tribes,  forofettinof  that 
in  this  he  pursued  literally  the  instructions  of  Washing- 
ton. No  conqueror  in  the  annals  of  history  took  fewer 
lives  of  an  enemy,  except  on  the  battle-field ;  although 
he  had  the  greatest  possible  provocation.  A  valuable 
officer  and  a  private  soldier  fell,  after  a  gallant  resistance, 


♦  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  229 

into  the  hands  of  the  savages.  From  the  condition  of 
their  bodies,  found  shortly,  it  appeared  that  they  had 
been  put  to  death,  after  tortures  and  mutilations  such  as 
have  never  been  surpassed,  if  ever  paralleled,  by  even 
Indian  cruelty.  The  forbearance  and  humanitv  of 
Sullivan's  course  deserves  to  be  held  in  honorable 
remembrance  ;  and  there  is  no  occasion  whatever  for  the 
regret  that  has  been  expressed  that  "  the  veil  of  forget- 
fulness  cannot  be  drawn  over  it." 

All  these  criticisms  upon  the  expedition  under  Sulli- 
van are  in  consequence  of  not  understanding  its  con- 
nection with  the  Wyoming  massacre.  That  was  its 
occasion  and  its  origin,  and  led  Congress,  the  Board  of 
War,  and  General  Washington  to  feel  it  necessary  to 
strike  just  such  a  blow  as  Sullivan  did,  upon  the  five 
tribes,  usually  designated  as  the  '•  Six  Nations," —  who,  led 
by  British  officers,  and  in  concert  with  British  regulars 
and  Tories,  had  perpetrated  the  outrage  upon  Wyom- 
ing. —  and  thus  render  them  incapable  of  repeating  it 
there  or  elsewhere.  The  march  of  Sullivan's  armv  was  not 
the  expression  of  revenge,  but  an  act  of  self-preservation. 
No  government  is  worthy  of  the  name,  which  does  not 
secure  the  safety  and  protection  of  its  people.  The 
alternative  was  whether  the  savage  tribes  in  Central  and 
Western  New  York,  in  alliance  with  the  public  enemy, 
should  be  disabled  for  further  mischief,  or  families  of 
civilized  men,  women,  and  children,  on  the  frontiers  and 
within  the  limits  of  the  American  Confederation,  be  indis- 
criminately and  brutally  destroyed.  The  Congress  of 
the  United  States  did  no  more  than  its  duty  in  choos- 
ing: the  first  course. 

The  Commander-in-Chief  was  responsible  for  the  expe- 


230  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  ♦ 

dition.  He  probably  designed  it,  and  certainly  superin- 
tended the  preparations  for  it,  with  great  care  and 
interest.  He  saw  that  it  was  needed.  It  was  one  of 
those  blows  which  Washington  occasionally  dealt,  and 
it  was  not  dealt  in  vain.  The  strong  arm  of  the  country, 
thus  wielded  by  him,  was  felt  through  all  the  Indian 
tribes,  and  the  name  they  thenceforth  gave  to  him,  — 
"  The  Town  Destroyer,"  —  was  expressive,  not  of  resent- 
ment or  reproach,  but  of  wondering  and  admiring  awe. 

General  Sullivan,  on  his  return  march,  again  pitched 
his  tents  at  Wyoming  on  the  7th  of  October,  1779,  just 
sixty-eight  days  from  his  departure  ;  and  the  sound  of 
public  war  never  more  crossed  the  borders  of  the  Valley, 
whether  from  savage  or  civilized  foe.  Fugitives  could 
now  return  in  safety ;  but  long  years  passed  before 
Wyoming  recovered  its  prosperity. 

The  controversy  between  the  settlers  and  Pennsylvania, 
however,  was  immediately  renewed,  in  which  the  dele- 
gates in  Congress  of  the  contesting  States  earnestly  en- 
gaged. 

Colonel  Zebulon  Butler,  as  has  been  seen,  Avas  a 
Connecticut  settler,  and  led  from  that  State  the  force 
which  had  last  recovered  the  possession  of  the  Valley.  He 
served  Avith  great  distinction  in  Sullivan's  expedition, 
was  in  the  Continental  army,  and  the  military  com- 
mander of  the  Wyoming  district.  The  following  letter 
from  Washington,  removing  him  from  that  post,  shows 
the  influence,  to  which  the  government  had  to  yield,  of 
the  parties  to  the  controversy  at  the  end  of  the  year 
1780.  Captain  Ramson's  company,  although  belonging 
to  the  Continental  army,  was  wholly  composed  of 
Wyoming  men :  — 


LIEE  OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  231 

To  Colonel  Zebulon  Butler. 

"  New- Windsor,  29  December,  1780. 

"  Sir, 
"Congress  having,  in  order  to  remove  all  cause  of  jealousy 
and  discontent  between  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and  Con- 
necticut, directed  me  to  withdraw  the  present  garrison  of 
"Wyoming,  and  to  replace  them  with  troops  from  the  Conti- 
nental army,  not  belonging  to  the  line  of  Pennsylvania  or 
Connecticut,  or  citizens  of  either  of  the  said  States,  I  have  for 
that  purj^ose  ordered  Captain  Mitchell,  of  the  Jersey  line,  to  re- 
lieve you.  You  will,  therefore,  upon  his  arrival,  deliver  up 
the  post  to  him,  and  march  with  all  the  men  at  present  under 
your  command,  and  join  the  army  in  the  neighborhood  of  this 
place.  I  am  w^ell  aware  of  the  difficulty  which  there  will  be 
of  bringing  away  the  men  of  Ransom's  company ;  but  I  trust, 
and  shall  expect,  that  you  will  exert  yourself  to  do  it  effect- 
ually ;  because,  if  they  remain  behind  in  any  numbers,  it 
would  seem  like  an  intention  to  evade  the  resolve  above  cited. 
You  will,  before  you  march,  give  Captain  Mitchell  every 
necessary  information  respecting  the  situation  of  the  country, 
and  make  him  acquainted  w^ith  those  characters  upon  whom 
he  can  depend  for  advice  and  intelligence,  in  case  of  an  incur- 
sion of  the  enemy.     I  am,  &c., 

"  George  Washington,  &c." 

The  Ninth  Article  of  Agreement  upon  which  the 
Confederation  of  the  United  States  was  formed,  con- 
tained a  provision,  most  carefully  and  wisely  framed,  for 
the  adjustment  of  differences  between  particular  States, 
by  a  tribunal  to  be  raised,  as  cases  occurred,  with  power 
to  decide  upon  them.  This  was  the  only  form  of  a 
national  judiciary,  prior  to  the  establishment  of  the 
present  Constitution.  On  the  application  of  Pennsyl- 
vania to  Congress,  such  a  tribunal  was  erected  to  settle 
the  controversy  to  which  State  the  Wyoming  territory 
belonged.     It  convened  at  Trenton,  in  New  Jersey,  in 


232  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

the  latter  part  of  the  year  1782.  Connecticut  recog- 
nized its  authority  and  appeared  before  it.  This  special 
court  was  of  final  jurisdiction.  There  could  be  no 
reversal  of  its  judgment,  and  from  its  decision  there 
was  no  appeal.  There  appears  to  have  been  a  thorough 
hearing  of  the  case;  and,  after  a  session  of  five  weeks, 
judgment  was  rendered  in  favor  of  Pennsylvania. 

This  ended  the  Wyoming  controversy  between  the 
two  States.  It  ought  to  have  ended  strife,  and  given 
peace  at  once  and  for  ever  to  the  unhappy  valley ;  but  it 
did  not. 

The  government  of  Pennsylvania  ought  instantly  to 
have  quieted  the  Connecticut  settlers  in  the  possession 
of  their  farms  with  their  improvements.  The  affections 
and  allegiance  of  such  a  people  would  have  been  w^orth 
more  than  all  their  lands.  But  other  counsels  pre- 
vailed, and  a  new  chapter  of  disorders  and  troubles 
was  opened,  with  which,  at  their  height  and  in  their 
conclusion,  the  subject  of  this  biography  will  be  found 
most  remarkably  connected. 

The  controversy,  as  between  Pennsylvania  and  Con- 
necticut, having  thus  reached  its  termination,  a  final 
retrospective  glance  over  it  may  here  be  taken,  and 
some  general  remarks,  as  to  the  course  of  the  contend- 
ing parties  during  its  progress,  with  propriety  be  offered. 

They  both,  undoubtedly,  felt  all  along  equally  confi- 
dent of  being  in  the  right.  This  accounts  for  their  per- 
tinacity and  determination  not  to  recede  or  concede  at 
any  moment,  in  any  crisis,  or  to  the  slightest  extent. 
This  was  not  an  unreasonable  obstinacy.  Although  a 
High  Court  gave,  as  it  had  to  do,  a  decision,  the  case 
had  such  inherent  difficulties  and  perplexities  that  dif- 


LIFE   OF    TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  233 

fering  judgments  will  always  exist  as  to  its  merits.  It 
will  be  looked  upon  in  opposite  lights.  No  blame  can, 
therefore,  attach  to  the  parties  at  the  time  for  each 
having  most  decided  opinions  relating  to  it.  It  cannot 
be  questioned  that  they  proved  the  sincerity  and  depth 
of  their  respective  convictions  by  the  constancy  with 
which  thev  cluno^  to  them  and  suffered  for  them,  durinor 
the  period  of  an  entire  generation.  The  greatest  heroism 
and  prowess  were  exhibited  on  both  sides.  Much  blood 
was  shed,  and  the  contests  were  often  close  and  severe; 
but  no  inhumanity  was  exhibited.  The  struggle  was 
strenuous,  often  repeated,  long  protracted,  and  its  fluctu- 
ating tides  swept  the  whole  population  over  and  over 
again  from  their  homes,  involving  them  alternately  in 
exile  and  ruin ;  but  no  barbaritv  seems  to  have  been 
practised,  and  no  fiendish  passions  engendered.  Pris- 
oners were  alwavs  kindlv  cared  for. 

Pennsylvania  has  been  sometimes  blamed  for  not  hav- 
ing used  more  decisive  and  violent  measures  to  demolish 
and  exterminate  the  intruders  upon  her  soil.  It  is  said 
that  she  ouo^ht  to  have  sent  a  force  at  the  besrinninof  to 
crush  them  out,  and  by  stern  and  exemplary  punishment 
have  intimidated  them  from  ever  a^^ain  cominoj  within 
her  boundaries. 

But  takins:  into  view  the  state  of  the  countrv.  the 
difficulty  of  reaching  Wyoming  with  a  large  force,  and 
the  then  existing  embarrassments  in  the  political  organ- 
ization of  Pennsvlvania,  it  must  be  concluded  that  she 
did  as  much  as  could  have  been  expected  of  her ;  and, 
considering  the  character  of  the  people  against  whom 
she  was  acting,  it  is  to  be  doubted  whether  tliey  could 
have  been  awed  by  any  vindictiveness  practised   upon 


234  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

those  of  them  falling  into  her  hands.  What  might  have 
friglitened  some  men  Avould  only  have  exasperated  them. 
No  bloody  revenge  would  have  answered  the  purpose. 
The  infliction  of  extreme  penalties  would  have  led  to 
fearful  retaliation,  on  the  next  turn  of  fortune,  aggra- 
vated the  horrors  of  the  strife,  planted  ineradicably  the 
seeds  of  hatred,  and  led  to  mischiefs  that  would  have 
been  felt  to  the  latest  time.  The  lenient  course  of 
Pennsylvania,  during  the  several  stages  of  the  contro- 
versy with  Connecticut,  reflects  honor  upon  her  wisdom 
as  well  as  humanitv.  At  different  times  she  took  many 
of  the  settlers  in  battle  or  skirmish,  and  held  them  as 
prisoners  in  her  jails  at  Easton  or  elsewhere,  among 
them  several  of  their  leaders.  She  did  not  execute 
upon  them  any  military  or  judicial  penalties.  She  treated 
them  not  as  wicked,  but  as  misguided,  men,  allowing 
them  to  be  discharged.  Such  a  course  may  have  been 
called  "  imbecility"  by  some,  but  is  entitled,  in  the  judg- 
ment of  enlightened  statesmen  and  philanthropists, — and 
will  be  more  and  more  so  as  the  world  advances,  —  to 
commendation  and  honor,  reflecting  the  truest  glory  on 
the  character  of  Pennsylvania.  Upon  the  whole,  no  con- 
flict in  arms,  protracted  through  such  a  period  of  years, 
and  accompanied  by  so  much  provocation,  is  so  little 
stained  by  cruelty  and  vindictiveness,  or  has  a  better 
record  of  the  bravery,  resolution,  or  endurance  of  the 
combatants,  than  the  long  fight  for  jurisdiction  over  the 
Wyoming  lands. 

As  for  the  settlers,  no  censure  of  their  character  or 
general  conduct  is  associated  necessarily  with  the  judg- 
ment of  the  court.  They  felt  that  they  had  been 
wronged  in  the  matter  of  the  purchase  of  the  lands  from 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  235 

the  Indians  ;  they  knew  that  they  had  acted  in   good 
faith  in  the  transaction,  and  nothing  could  remove  their 
conviction   that   the  "  Six    Nations,"    in    a    subsequent 
council,  had  been  tampered  with,  and  unfairly  induced 
to  disavow  the  sale.     As  for  the  dispute  between  their 
State  and  Pennsylvania  for  jurisdiction  over  the  territory, 
they  knew  that  the  charter  of  the  former  was  prior  in  date, 
and  in  other  respects  of  superior  validity.  The  claimants 
under  the  grant  to  William  Penn  were  his  descendants 
and  heirs,  a  private  person,  so  to  speak,  living  for  the 
most   part    out    of  the  country.     A   prejudice    became 
deeplv  fixed  in  the  minds  of  these  hardv  backwoodsmen 
against  the  pretensions  of  a  non-resident  foreign  aristoc- 
racy of  the  closest  kind,   consisting,  indeed,  of  but  a 
single  family,  to  govern  them  and  a  territory  belonging 
to    the:r    State    by    chartered    right,    which    had    been 
honestly   purchased  of  the  aboriginal   proprietors,  and 
further  made  their  own  by  the  sweat  of  their  brows; 
which,  by  the  endurance  of  every  hardship,  had  been 
reclaimed   from   a   wild    forest,   and    converted,  bv   the 
labors  of  a  generation,  into  fertile  fields  and  beautiful 
farms.     In  all  the  earlv  stao^es  of  the  controversv,  this 
feeling  against  the  pretensions  of  the  Penns  had  been 
shared  with  them  by  a  large  portion  of  the  people  of 
Pennsylvania,  who,  with  all  settlers    everywhere,  in  all 
parts  of  that  State,  from  whatever  colonies  or  countries 
they  had  come,  were  hi  the  habit  of  speaking  in  deri- 
sion   of   those  countenancino:   the   claims  of   the   Penn 
family  as  "  Pennamites,"  or  "  Pennymites,"  which  latter 
had  become  the  prevalent  popular  term. 

To  account  for  the  strength  of  the   sensibilities  and 
passions    with   which    the    settlers   were  imbued,    it  is 


236  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

necessary  to  realize  their  circumstances  and  conditions. 
Persons  living  in  a  wilderness,  far  remote  from  organized 
communities,  without  means  of  communication  with  the 
rest  of  the   world,  are  apt  to  acquire  a  spirit  of  inde- 
pendence,  making    them    disregarded    of  the  artificial 
restraints  that  have  to  be  recognized  in  more  crowded 
states  of  society.     They  know  nothing  of  the  tribunals, 
and  care  nothing:  for  the  technicalities  of  law.     He  who, 
by  his  own  axe  and  plough,  has  transformed  the  acres, 
within  which  his  daily  and  yearly  life  is  bounded,  from 
a  pathless,  worthless  forest  into  a  cultivated  and  produc- 
tive enclosure,  feels  that  he  owns  it  by  a  title  better  than 
all  written  documents  or  recorded  deeds.     His  farm,  his 
house,  his  barns ;   all  that  he  has,  thinks   of,  or  cares 
about,  —  is  literally  the  work  of  his  own  hands,  his  sole 
creation.     No  other  man  has  contributed  to  it ;  and  it  is 
hard  to  make  him  understand  that  any  other  man,  be  he 
called  w^hat  he  may,  —  governor,  proprietor,  legislator, 
judge,  or  sheriff,  —  has  a  right  to  take  his  land  from 
under  his  feet.     He  will  hold  to  it  as  his  life,  and  fight 
for  it  against  the  world.    If  any  sense  of  wrong  done  or 
threatened  gets  a  lodgement  in  his  breast,  it  rankles  there, 
under  the  gloomy  shadows  of  his  lone  wilderness  abode  ; 
and  if  neighbors,  who  may  sometimes  seek  his  clearing 
through    forest    paths,   have    similar  feelings,   they  are 
deepened  and  exasperated   by  occasional  communings. 
Men  scattered  here  and  there  over  a  tract  of  territory 
which  no  organized  force,  civil  or  military,  can  easily 
penetrate,   actuated  by   similar   interests   and   passions, 
become   resolute,   earnest,   daring,   and   unconquerable. 
Such  were  the  Connecticut  settlers.     For  a  quarter  of  a 
century  they  had  bid  defiance  to  the  Penn  proprietors 
and  to  Pennsylvania. 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  237 

In  the  mean  time  those  lands  had  become  more  and 
more  endeared  to  them  by  every  principle  of  association, 
every  habit  of  homely  life,  every  trial,  and  every  peril. 
By  their  toil  and  energy  they  had  been  reclaimed  from 
the  rutjged  wilderness  of  nature  and  converted  into  smooth 
lawns  and  verdant  meadows  of  marvellous  beautv  and 
loveliness.  Adventurers  from  other  colonies  and  other 
lands  had,  one  by  one,  been  drawn  into  their  company, 
attracted  by  tales  of  w^orld-wdde  currency,  portraying  the 
charming  aspect  of  the  country,  the  excellence  of  its  soil 
for  the  culture  of  grains  and  fruit,  and  every  attribute 
that  can  adorn  a  landscape,  and  give  reward  to  industry. 
It  w^as  not  only  endeared  to  its  occupants  by  the  attach- 
ments now  mentioned,  but  consecrated  by  special  experi- 
ences of  blood  and  woe,  that  have  riveted  on  them  the 
sympathies  of  mankind,  perpetuated  in  the  hearts  of  all 
coming  generations  by  verses  of  foreign  and  native  bards 
that  will  never  die.  The  devastations  of  their  fields,  the 
conflagrations  of  their  dwellings  and  barns,  and  the  re- 
peated massacre  of  their  people,  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren, by  savage  hordes,  —  all  these  combined  could 
not  destroy  or  weaken  the  tenacity  with  which  they 
clung  to  their  lands.  Those  who  escaped  the  tomahawk 
and  scalping-knife,  had  come  back,  over  and  over  again, 
from  their  places  of  refuge.  The  invhicible,  indestruc- 
tible community  persevered  in  its  contest  against  all 
odds  ;  and  no  power,  civilized  or  barbarian,  could  root 
it  out. 

Finallv,  in  this  brief  review  of  the  Wvomins^  contro- 
versv  between  two  States,  —  of  w^hich  an  account  is 
necessary  in  a  biography  of  Timothy  Pickering,  from 
his  agency,  as  shown  in  the  letters  he  wrote  to  Zebulon 


238  LIFE    OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

Butler,  and  his  participation  as  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  War  in  Siilhvan's  expedition,  but  especially,  as  will 
be  seen,  from  his  connection  with  the  convulsions  that 
followed  it,  —  upon  balancing  the  facts  and  evidence,  we 
are  brought,  not  to  the  conclusion  usually  the  result  of 
a  fair  consideration  of  the  whole  subject  in  like  cases, 
that  both  parties  were  in  the  wrong,  but  that  both  were 
substantially  in  the  right.  So  far  as  the  original  charters 
were  to  decide  the  question,  each  party  felt  its  title  to  be 
good.  The  purchases  made  of  Indians,  and  the  disa- 
vowals of  them  by  Indians,  left  no  solid  ground  for  either 
party  to  stand  on.  There  was  nothing  in  their  general 
conduct,  during  the  progress  of  the  controversy,  to  leave 
special  reproach  upon  either.  The  court  decided  it 
legally  and  practically,  but  neither  their  decision  nor 
the  verdict  of  the  historian  can  precisely  strike  the  bal- 
ance of  right  and  wrong,  in  a  moral  estimate,  between 
them. 

While  such  apologies  may  be  suggested  for  the  course 
of  the  contending  parties,  and  as  to  their  conduct  gener- 
ally, so  long  as  the  question  of  jurisdiction  remained  un- 
decided ;  after  the  decision,  they  took  measures,  and 
were  led  into  positions,  that  cannot  be  justified.  ' 

Pennsylvania,  instead  of  conceding  to  the  settlers  their 
right  to  the  lands  they  had  reclaimed,  and  the  houses 
they  had  built  and  occupied  for  such  a  length  of  years, 
gave  notice  of  her  purpose  to  take  possession  of  them 
all.  The  utmost  that  she  proposed  to  do,  for  their  re- 
lief or  redress,  was  to  procure  for  them  some  territory, 
such  as  she  might  judge  equivalent,  in  some  far-off 
wilderness.  She  proceeded  to  garrison  the  forts,  station- 
ing a  menacing  force  in  them,  and  to  put  into  operation 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  239 

the  machinery,  military  and  civil,  by  which  to  eject  them 
from  their  homes,  and  carry  out  her  harsh  and  cruel 
policy.  It  cannot  be  defended,  and  was  as  unwise  as  it 
was  inhuman.  The  common  sense  and  moral  rectitude 
of  her  own  people  finally  repudiated  it,  and  would  have 
done  so  at  once,  had  not  the  reaction  in  favor  of  the 
settlers  been  checked  by  their  rash  conduct,  or  rather 
that  of  their  principal  leaders. 

The  course  of  the  government  of  Pennsylvania,  in 
confiscating  the  lands  of  the  Connecticut  settlers,  has  no 
justification  in  the  decree  of  the  court  at  Trenton.  On 
the  contrary,  the  question  of  the  tenure  of  the  lands  by 
those  then  in  the  occupancy  of  them  did  not  come  before 
that  tribunal,  as  was  expressly  declared  in  the  proceed- 
ings at  the  time,  and  in  the  judgment  rendered.  The 
members  of  the  court  severally  affirmed  this  afterwards. 
The  question  submitted  to  them,  and  on  which  alone 
they  decided,  w^as  not  of  property  or  ownership,  but 
merely  of  jurisdiction.  The  rights  of  the  settlers  to 
their  particular  farms  or  lots  were  in  no  degree  intended 
to  be  affected  by  the  Trenton  decree,  but  remained  to 
be  determined  and  adjusted,  in  the  ordinary  way,  by  the 
proper  tribunals,  and  the  regular  procedures  of  the 
established  courts  of  law  and  equity. 

At  first,  indeed,  the  settlers  used  only  legitimate  and 
proper  measures  of  protection.  They  sent  petitions  to 
the  legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  praying  to  be  allowed 
to  continue  to  hold  their  estates.  They  also  laid  their 
case  before  Congress  by  petition,  and  on  the  23d  of 
January,  1784,  that  body  took  the  initiatory  steps  re- 
quired in  such  cases  by  the  Ninth  Article  of  Confedera- 
tion.    In  the  mean  while  altercations  were  constantly 


240  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

going  on  between  the  people  and  the  soldiery  placed 
among  them,  and  some  rash  and  fiery  spirits  were  inflam- 
ing the  settlers  against  the  Pennsylvania  government. 

In  the  spring  of  1784:,  another  awful  calamity  befell 
Wvominsj.  It  has  been  seen  that  six  times,  in  its  troub- 
lous  and  tragical  history,  it  had  been  depopulated  ;  once 
by  Indians,  four  times  by  Pennsylvania,  and  once  by 
Indians  and  British.  Six  vials  of  destruction  had  thus 
been  poured  out  upon  it  by  the  wrath  of  man.  The  seventh 
vial,  now  to  be  poured  out,  was  as  of  the  wrath  of  God. 
A  winter  of  unusual  severity,  with  great  and  frequent 
falls  of  snow,  was  followed  in  March  bv  a  freshet,  such  as 
was  never  known  before  or  since,  on  the  Susquehanna. 
At  successive  points,  along  the  entire  length  of  that 
river,  immense  ice-jams  were  formed,  submerging  the 
country  immediately  above  them,  and  converting  the 
bed  of  the  stream  into  a  series  of  surging  lakes.  The 
people  saw  their  danger ;  fled,  with  all  they  could  carry, 
to  neighboring  eminences ;  and  watched  with  horror  the 
terrible  spectacle. 

The  "breaking  up"  of  rivers  at  spring  floods,  in 
these  latitudes,  is  one  of  the  grandest  phenomena  of 
nature.  Its  forewarning  is  a  deep  low  sound,  as  of 
far-off  thunder,  slowly  but  steadily  increasing ;  soon 
there  are  sharp  intonations,  like  explosions  of  artillery, 
by  crackings  of  the  ice  across  and  along  the  river, 
caused  bv  the  swollen  current  beneath.  The  water 
begins  to  gush  or  spout  up  through  the  crevices,  and  at 
the  banks.  The  process  taking  place,  simultaneously, 
over  great  distances,  makes  itself  discernible  to  the  ear 
and  eye.  The  whole  frozen  covering  of  the  river  is  seen 
to  move  downward,  chafing,  breaking,  and  resounding 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  241 

as  it  goes.  Jams  are  formed  by  obstacles  in  tbe  bed, 
and  at  angles  or  gorges  in  the  course  of  the  stream. 
The  current,  thus  intercepted,  rises  into  floods,  the  ice- 
cakes  crash  together,  slide  under  or  over  each  other, 
heap  up  in  piles,  and  tumble  back  in  the  seething  waters. 
The  ice-jams  far  up  the  river  first  break,  and  let  loose 
the  dams  they  had  formed,  which  pour  like  cataracts 
upon  the  dams  below  ;  and  the  mighty  volume,  inundating 
the  country  far  and  wide,  increases  as  it  bursts  its  way, 
bearing  on  its  surface,  besides  the  broken  ice,  uprooted 
trees  from  forests  and  orchards,  and  fragments  of  fences, 
barns,  and  houses.  The  accumulated  but  released 
floods  rush  bv  in  an  irresistible  torrent,  smashinsf  and 
whirling  on  every  thing  in  their  path.  The  scene  is 
ti'uly  terrible  to  behold.  It  is  quickly  over,  but,  while 
it  lasts,  shakes  the  air  with  a  roar  equal  to  that  of 
Niagara. 

The  people  of  Wyoming,  from  the  hill-tops  and  moun- 
tains, witnessed  the  destructive  spectacle,  and  saw  their 
dwellings,  barns,  cattle,  and  stores  swept  away.  On  the 
subsidence  of  the  inundation  they  made  their  way  ba<jk 
to  homes  once  more  ruined,  and  again  commenced  the 
toils,  which  they  had  so  often  encountered,  of  restoring 
wasted  fields,  and  rebuilding  habitations  ;  this  time,  how- 
ever, with  but  little  heart  or  hope,  under  the  impending 
threat  of  speedy  ejectment  and  lasting  expulsion.   • 

This  calamity  filled  their  cup  to  overflowing,  and  drove 
many  of  them  to  desperation.  The  memories  of  their 
past  troubles  since  they  first  came  to  the  valley,  so  con- 
stant, diversified,  long-continued,  and  accumulated  ;  the 
ill-treatment  thev  were  meeting  from  Pennsvlvania  now 
that   they  had  come   under  her  power ;  the  process  of 

Vol.  II.  16 


242  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

confiscation  tliat  liad  begnn  to  go  into  effect ;  the  deaf- 
ness of  her  legislature  to  all  appeals  and  remonstrances  ; 
and  the  slow  delay  with  whicli  relief  would  come  from 
Congress,  if  it  should  ever  come,  —  were  more  than  they 
could  bear.  Listening  to  evil  counsels,  and  following  pas- 
sionate leaders,  they  left  the  vantage-ground  of  patient 
endurance  where  succor  would  soon  have  surely  come 
to  them  from  the  sympathy  of  the  country  at  large,  and 
ultimately  of  the  great  body  of  the  people  of  Pennsyl- 
vania itself,  took  a  defiant  attitude  towards  that  govern- 
ment, and  openly  resisted  its  law^s.  This  was  a  fatal 
error.  From  that  moment  they  became  insurgents  and 
rebels.  They  lost  the  friends  that  were  rising  up  in 
their  behalf  in  Pennsylvania,  and  whose  voices  were 
beginning  to  be  heard  in  the  councils  of  that  State.  Its 
power  and  pride  soon  became  arrayed  against  them. 
Although  its  proceedings  were  thought  by  some  not 
to  be  as  steady  as  they  might  have  been,  but  to  bear 
at  times  the  appearance  of  hesitancy  and  vacillation, 
there  ought  to  have  been  no  doubt  that  its  authority 
would  finally  prevail. 

It  must  be  remembered,  however,  in  mitigation  of  the 
folly  of  those  of  the  settlers  who  went  into  this  rebellion, 
that  they  had  been  accustomed  to  follow  the  guidance  of 
certain  land  companies  in  Connecticut,  incorporated  by 
the  legislature  of  that  State,  which  had  originally  pur- 
chased those  lands  from  the  Indians,  and  whose  members 
could  not  relinquish  the  fancy  that  they  had  a  prospec- 
tive pecuniary  interest  in  them.  They  had  sent  forward 
the  first  emigrants,  who  held,  under  titles  given  by  them, 
and  had  been  enabled  by  their  energetic  aid,  to  recover 
the   territory  so  often.     The  settlers  had  been  backed 


LIFE   OF   TDIOTHY   PICKERING.  243 

and  re-enforced  bv  the  influence  and  resources  of  these 
companies  all  along.  While  the  question  of  jurisdiction 
remained  open,  the  action  of  those  companies,  in  aiding 
and  sustaining  the  settlers,  was  entirely  legitimate.  But, 
so  far  as  thev  continued  to  instio^ate  resistance  to  the 
government  of  Pennsylvania,  after  the  decision  of  the 
court  at  Trenton,  it  was  unjustifiable  and  mischievous. 

Indeed,  there  was  at  that  period  pervading  the  coun- 
try a  fearful  disreo^ard  of  the  oblif^ations  of  law,  a  wide- 
spread  spirit  of  insubordination  to  government  in  general. 
The  public  mind  for  years,  during  the  Revolutionary  war, 
while  the  Continent  was  in  rebellion  against  the  Crown 
of  England,  had,  to  some  extent,  and  in  many  quarters, 
been  getting  loose  from  the  idea  of  political  restraints  ; 
and  it  was  long  before  it  recovered  a  healthy  allegiance 
to  the  authority  of  government,  as  is  evidenced  by  insur- 
rectionary proceedings,  on  a  serious  scale,  in  Massachu- 
setts and  elsewhere.  jAt  that  day,  the  truth  had  not 
dawned  upon  any,  and  is  not  even  yet  fully  discerned, 
that,  in  a  free  Republic,  rebellion  is  out  of  place,  absurd, 
and  absolutely  sure  to  fail.  Where  suffrage  is  equal 
and  universal,  and  elections  are  frequent,  the  people  and 
the  government  are  identical  :  there  can  be  nothing  to 
rebel  against,  and  nobody  left  to  rebel.  The  ballot-box 
disperses  discontent,  and  heals  the  diseases  of  the  State. 
All  surplus  electricity  escapes  through  it.  The  people, 
being  the  government,  will  be  sure  to  uphold  it.  A  real 
Republic,  which  keeps  its  sovereignty  alive  in  the  hands 
of  the  people,  is,  for  this  reason,  the  strongest  govern- 
ment in  the  world,  the  onlv  one  that  has  in  itself  the  ele- 
ment  of  perpetuity.  Further,  it  was  not  then  known, 
as  the  subsequent  experience  of  the  United  States  has 


244  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

proved,  tliat  a  Eegublic  cannot  easily  be  dismembered. 
It  is  pervaded  by  one  spirit  of  life,  and  cannot  be  torn 
apart.  Counties  cannot  sever  themselves  from  States, 
nor  States  from  the  Union.  / 

"While  there  was  such  a  general  want  of  appreciation 
of  the  follv  and  wickedness  of  a  forcible  resistance  to 
laws  made  by  the  people,  and  to  government  resting  on 
the  will  of  the  people,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that 
frontiers-men,  like  the  Connecticut  settlers  at  Wyom- 
ing, should  have  been  drawn  into  rebellion.  They  had 
little  acquaintance  with  artificial  arrangements  of  society  ; 
they  had  felt  the  law  only  as  it  had  attempted,  and  had 
succeeded,  to  subjugate  them  to  an  authority  they  denied. 
Their  peculiar  experience  had  led  them  to  know  no  other 
sovereign  than  their  own  determined  will.  They  had 
looked  in  vain,  outside  of  their  own  narrow  limits,  for  aid 
or  for  justice.  Their  strong  arms  and  brave  hearts  had 
been  proved,  after  many  reverses,  to  be  a  sufficient  wall 
of  defence  around  them  ;  and  they  felt  that  they  always 
would  be. 

Such  men  were  iit  subjects  to  be  instigated  to  rebellion, 
and  many  of  them  were  ready  for  it.  All  they  wanted 
was  a  leader,  and  he  appeared  at  the  crisis.  Colonel 
John  Franklin  was  a  native  of  Connecticut.  He  had 
signalized  himself  by  deeds  of  gallantry  on  many  occa- 
sions, was  a  man  of  great  physical  strength,  and  every 
way  qualified  to  enlist  the  confidence  and  stimulate  the 
passions  of  men  disposed  to  daring  measures.  There 
does  not  appear  to  be  any  evidence  against  his  personal 
and  private  character.  After  the  strife  was  over,  he 
seems  to  have  enjoyed  the  respect  of  his  fellow-citizens. 
Of  course  no  weight   can  be  attached  to  vehement  ex- 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  245 

pressions  used  against  him  while  the  heat  and  violence 
of  the  struggle  to  subdue  him  ^yere  at  their  height.  He 
might  have  been  honest  in  his  convictions,  although  rash 
in  his  conduct,  and  whollv  mistaken  in  his  views  of  what 
ought  to  be  attempted  or  could  be  accomplished  by  wav 
of  insurrection.  He  organized  and  kept  up  resistance  to 
the  State  government  throughout  the  Valley,  and  was 
joined  by  similar  spirits  from  other  States.  A  consider- 
able number  of  "  Green  Mountain  Bovs,''  fresh  from  a 
similar  contest  with  Xew  York,  came  in  a  bodv ;  and 
Ethan  Allen  himself  was  there,  ready  to  summon  a  large 
force  if  necessary.  The  rebellion  had,  indeed,  become 
formidable ;    and  lawlessness  reigned  for  a  time. 

The  Revolutioucfi-y  war  being  closed,  and  the  United 
States  having  become,  severally,  independent  and  sover- 
eign, Pennsylvania  felt  her  strength  and  her  duty.  This 
insurrection,  in  a  small  corner  of  her  great  territory, 
could  not  be  suffered.  Her  authority,  and  the  peaceful 
swav  of  her  laws  over  it.  were  to  be  restored  at  all  events, 
and  by  whatever  force  or  means.  The  part  Colonel 
Pickering  acted  in  bringing  this  about  will  be  shown 
in  the  following  chapters,  as  described  in  letters  and 
documents  written  by  him.  In  citing  them,  his  strong 
expressions  against  John  Franklin  and  others  will  be 
given.  It  is  said  that  subsequently  he  and  Franklin 
often  met  on  friendlv  terms. 

It  may  be  stated  in  this  connection,  and  once  for  all, 
that,  in  this  memoir  of  Colonel  Pickering,  the  author  is 
not  to  be  considered  as  espousing  the  sentiments  he 
quotes.  The  duty  of  the  historian  is  to  relate  what  men 
did  and  said,  without  being  at  all  responsible  for  their 
actions  or  language.      Colonel    Pickering  was  a  bold, 


246  ^IFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

strenuous,  and  stern  combatant.  In  this  affair,  as  after- 
wards in  the  conflict  between  the  two  great  parties  that 
divided  the  nation,  and  in  emergencies  that  awakened 
the  strongest  sensibilities  of  leading  statesmen  and  the 
entire  people,  Colonel  Pickering  was  in  the  habit  of 
speaking  his  mind  in  forcible  and  emphatic  terms  :  his 
actions  were  fearless,  and  his  utterances  uncompromising. 
But  while  he  gave  hard  blows,  and  used  hard  words,  he 
was  suigularly  placable.  Time  assuaged  his  feelings 
towards  antagonists.  While  retaining  to  the  last  his 
sentiments  on  the  political  questions  and  issues  in  which 
he  had  differed  from  them,  he  did  justice  to  then-  merits. 
In  his  old  age  he  held  most  kindly  correspondence  with 
some,  of  whom  it  will  be  seen  in  these  volumes,  in  days 
of  former  strife,  he  expressed  himself  in  the  severest 
terms.  Every  thinking,  candid,  and  fair  mind  outlives 
its  prejudices,  and  often  reverses  its  judgments  of  men. 
The  passions,  which  the  actors  themselves  bury,  ought 
not  to  come  to  life  again  in  the  breasts  of  their  biog- 
raphers.* 

*  The  material  facts,  and  many  interesting  details,  in  the  history  of  Wyom- 
ing, and  in  reference  to  the  great  controversy  as  to  jurisdiction  over  it,  with 
a  variety  of  delineations  of  its  singular  experiences  of  troubles  and  sufferings, 
may  be  gathered  from  the  following  works  :  — 

"  The  History  of  Wyoming,"  by  Isaac  A.  Chapman,  a  resident  of  the  Val- 
ley, published  in  1839  ;  an  uiifiiiislied,  posthumous  work,  pp.  209. 

"  The  Poetry  and  History  of  Wyoming,"  by  William  L.  Stone,  author  of 
the  "Life  of  Brant,"  &c.  1840.   pp.  40G. 

"  Histdry  of  Wyoming,"  by  Charles  Miner,  1845.  Mr.  Miner  was  long  a 
resident  of  Wyoming,  editor  of  newspapers,  and  author  of  several  publications. 
He  represented  the  district  of  which  it  was  a  part  in  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States,     pp.  592. 

"  Annals  of  Luzerne  County,"  by  Stewart  Pearce,  1866,  pp.  564,  a  valuable 
volume. 

Besides  other  works,  treating  the  subject,  such  as  a  History  of  Wyoming, 
by  George  Peck,  D.D.,  and  of  the  Lackawanna  Valley,  by  H.  HoUister,  M.D. 
Lossing's  "  Pictorial  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution "  tells  and  illustrates  the 
story  well. 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICEIERING.  247 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Colonel  Pickering  organizes  the  County  of  Luzerne.      Removes 

his  Family  to  Wyoming. 

1786,  1787. 

The  disturbances  in  the  Wyoming  territory  occa- 
sioned so  much  trouble  to  the  authorities  of  Pennsvl- 
vania,  were  so  mischievous  in  their  effects  on  the 
condition  of  the  people  there,  and  so  seriously  retarded 
the  settlement  of  that  part  of  the  country,  that  it  became 
e^ident  to  all  considerate  persons  that,  in  some  way  or 
other,  it  was  necessary,  if  possible,  to  bring  them  to  an 
end.  All  the  ordinary  means  for  reducing  or  suppress- 
ing them,  by  persuasion  or  force,  had  been  tried  in  vain. 
Forts,  garrisons,  and  processes  of  law  had  failed.  Some 
new  method  had  to  be  contrived. 

The  subject  occupied  the  thoughts  of  the  public  men 
of  the  State,  and  of  citizens  generally  ;  particularly  in 
Philadelphia.  Most  of  the  influential  persons  there 
were  on  intimate  terms  with  Colonel  Pickering.  The 
subject,  no  doubt,  constituted  a  principal  topic  of  fre- 
quent conversation.  He  had  come  to  a  final  conclusion 
to  remove,  with  his  family,  to  some  new  settlement  on 
the  frontiers,  or  to  open  one  himself  in  the  remoter  wil- 
derness. With  this  in  view  he  had  purchased  several 
large  tracts  of  unoccupied  lands  in  the  extreme  w^estern 
counties  of  Virginia  and  beyond,  in  the  territory,  then 
belonging  to   that  State,  constituting  now  the  State  of 


248  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

I 

Kentucky,  and  on  the  borders  of  the  Ohio.  Patents 
conveying  to  him  these  lands  are  among  his  papers. 
This  gave  him  a  personal  prospective  interest  in  the 
discussions  that  led  to  the  ordinances  of  Congress  relat- 
ins:  to  Western  Territories,  and  occasioned  a  voluminous 
correspondence  between  him  and  Rufus  King,  and  other 
prominent  persons  having  that  matter  in  charge.  He 
had  also,  in  company  with  others,  bought  a  large  tract 
of  land  in  Pennsylvania,  which  had,  on 'many  accounts, 
greater  attractions,  as  a  future  permanent  home,  than 
more  distant  localities.  But  his  Pennsylvania  purchase 
was  in  immediate  contact  with  the  Wyoming  lands,  and 
in  fact,  to  some  extent,  overlay  them.  This  tract,  how- 
ever, could  hardly  be  considered  a  desirable  or  secure 
residence  for  a  family  while  the  controversy  relating  to 
it  remained,  preventing  the  peaceful  sway  of  law  and 
order  within  its  limits.  His  friends  became  acquainted 
with  all  his  purposes,  interests,  and  views,  as  to  the 
point  of  destination  which  he  would  finally  select, — 
whether  to  go  with  Kufus  Putnam  and  others,  beyond 
the  AUeghanies  ;  or  to  the  Pennsylvania  tract,  which,  he 
was  free  to  say,  that,  were  it  not  for  the  animosities,  and 
even  rebellion  raging  there,  he  would  prefer.  As  he 
always  was  frank  and  ingenuous  in  expressing  his  ideas, 
his  associates  knew  exactly  the  state  of  his  mind  on  all 
subjects  and  all  occasions.  They  saw  that  the  tendency 
of  his  preference  was  for  his  Pennsylvania  lands,  and  it 
was  at  once  evident  to  them  that  the  public  interest 
required  it  to  be  determined  in  that  direction.  In  short, 
they  became  convinced  that  it  was  of  the  utmost  impor- 
tance that  he  should  fix  his  abode  there. 

The    high  military   positions   he   had  held,  and  the 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  249 

hoDorable  part  he  had  borne  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
were  universally  known.  His  energy,  courage,  and 
integrity,  everywhere  appreciated,  gave  him  great  influ- 
ence and  weight  of  character.  He  was  equal  to  any 
emergency  of  personal  peril  or  endurance,  requiring 
physical  strength  and  hardihood,  or  moral  firmness.  His 
philanthropy  and  love  of  justice  would  make  him  true 
to  the  rights  and  reasonable  claims  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  territorv.  while  his  stern  allemance  to  law  and  gov- 
ernment  would  secure  the  authoritv  of  the  State.  His 
exertions  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  War,  at  the  time 
of  the  Wyoming  massacre,  to  hasten  reUef  in  that 
dreadful  crisis,  from  Congress  and  the  army,  were  un- 
doubtedly gratefully  remembered  by  the  people  there. 
Altogether  it  was  evident  that  he  was  just  the  man  to 
take  the  manao^ement  of  aifairs  at  Wvoming:. 
I  The  result  of  frequent  discussions,  in  the  social  circle, 
between  him  and  his  distins^uished  friends  in  thiladel- 
phia,  was  that  it  was  agreed  that  if  he  removed  to 
Wyoming,  all    the  requisite   official   powers  should  be 

/  conferred  upon  him  to  enforce  the  authority  of  the  State 
in  placing  that  district  on  a  solid  basis  of  permanent 
peace.  It  was  arranged,  if  he  should  undertake  the 
task,  to  prepare  the  way  for  its  execution.  The  terri- 
tory was  about  to  be  erected  into  a  distinct  county  ;  and 
he  was   assured  that    the    principal   civil    offices   of  it 

!  should  be  put  into  his  hands.  The  whole  political  and 
personal  influence  of  the  leading  characters,  addressing 
these  solicitations  to  him,  was   pledged  to  his  support, 

'    whatever  difficulties  might  be  encountered. 

The  portion  of  his  biography  upon  which  we  now 
enter,  will  be  drawn,  for  the  most  part,  from  his  cor- 


250  LU'l'^   OF   TIMOTHY   riCKKKING. 

respoiidcnce  nt  tlie  tiiiu' ;  from  an  account  of  some  of 
its  most  inteivstiiig  ])ussages,  written  by  him  more  than 
thirty  years  afterwards;  and  from  various  papers  and 
minutes  found  amoni^  liis  manuscripts. 

IJefore  Jibsolutely  and  finally  committing  himself  to 
the  Wyoming  enterprise,  he  thought  it  proper  to  visit 
the  country.  Some  gentlemen  interested  in  the  meas- 
ure, and  also  desirous  of  a  personal  inspection  of  the 
unsettled  lands  in  that  part  of  the  State,  offered  to 
accompany  him. 

There  were  three  routes  bv  which  the  Wvomin":  re2:ion 
was  then  ordinarily  reached  from  Philadelphia,  which 
may  here  be  mentioned.  One  was  to  go  down  the  Del- 
aware, land  at  Wilmington,  take  the  Baltimore  road  to 
the  Elk,  and  then  ascend  by  boat  the  Susquehanna, 
and  follow  up  its  eastern  branch  from  Sunbury.  This 
was  the  longest,  mostly  water-borne,  but  almost  wholly 
against  the  current.  It  has  the  shortest  land-carriage, 
and  is  the  one  referred  to  by  Colonel  Pickering,  when 
he  says  that  but  twenty  miles  of  land-conveyance  is  nec- 
essary between  Philadelphia  and  Wyoming.  Another 
was,  following  the  Delaware  up  to  Easton ;  from  that 
point  crossing  the  country  over  the  Blue  and  Pocona 
Mountains  and  through  Wind-gap.  Erom  the  hilly 
character  of  the  country  beyond  Easton,  this  was  not 
adapted  to  heavy  transportation.  The  third  route,  be- 
tween these,  became  the  prevalent  one,  —  directly  across 
the  country  to  Middletown,  on  the  Susquehanna,  a  little 
below  llarrisburg,  and  from  that  point  up  the  Susque- 
hanna and  its  east  branch.  The  land  part  of  this  route 
was  long  and  fatiguing,  all  transportation  of  goods  over 
it  being  in  strong,  heavy,  and  lumbering  wagons. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.       '  251 

Two  gentlemen  accompanied  Colonel  Pickering  at 
the  start.  Others  overtook  them  on  the  way.  As  they 
were  not  encumbered  by  much  luggage,  they  did  not 
think  it  necessary  to  take  either  of  the  three,  just  men- 
tioned, most  travelled  and  worn  routes,  as  appears  by 
Colonel  Pickering's  "  Journal  of  a  Tour  into  the  Woods 
of  Pennsylvania,  about  the  Great  Bend,  August  and 
September,  1786."  It  seems  to  have  been  kept  daily, 
and  is  a  curious  and  most  valuable  document,  gfivinor 
minute  observations  of  the  topography,  features,  and 
growths  of  the  country,  then  mostly  in  its  original  wil- 
derness state.  It  is  such  as  could  only  have  proceeded 
from  a  scientific  and  practical  agriculturist. 

The  party  set  out  from  Philadelphia  on  Friday  morn- 
ing, August  4th.  1786.  Lodging  at  Pottsgrove  it  reached 
Heading^  the  next  dav,  and  Sunburv  on  the  8th.  It  was 
necessary  to  go  up  the  Susquehanna,  above  the  junction 
of  the  east  branch,  to  meet  Mr.  S.  Wallis,  who  was  to 
accompany  them  and  conduct  their  surveys.  The  arrange- 
ment was  completed  with  him,  while  the  party  was  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Muncy's  Creek,  from  which  point  Col- 
onel Pickering  addressed  the  following  letter  to  his 
wife :  — 

"Saturday,  August  12th,  1786.  At  Mr.  Philip  Fraxcis's,  about 
a  mile  below  the  mouth  of  ^luncy  Creek,  and  three  miles 
below  Mr.  Wallis's." 

"  I  am  informed  of  a  messenger  going  from  Mr.  Wallis's 
to  Wilmington,  in  the  Delaware  State.  I  emV)race  this 
occasion  to  inform  you  that  I  remain  in  perfect  health.  We 
expected  ere  this  to  have  been  farther  advanced  on  our  jour- 
ney, but  Mr.  Wallis  is  to  go  with  ns,  to  complete  the  surveys 
of  the  land  we  are  to  visit ;  and  he  cannot  get  ready  tiU  next 
Monday,  the  14th,  and  it  will  probably  take  us  a  week  to  col- 
lect necessaries  for  the  survevor,  chain-carriers, .&c.,  and  travel 


252  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

to  Tioga ;  so  that  my  return  may  be  ten  da3's  or  a  fortnight 
Liter  than  I  wislied  or  expected  when  I  left  home.  As  Mr. 
Wallis  wTiS  not  ready,  we  spent  two  nights  and  one  day  at 
General  Potter's,  where  we  were  kindly  entertained.  Last 
night  and  the  preceding  one  we  lodged  at  Mr.  Francis's,  and 
shall  stay  here  till  we  proceed  on  our  journey.  Mr.  Fiancis 
is  uncle  to  Thomas  Francis,  who  is  with  us.  His  lady  is  a 
lively,  agreeable  woman,  and  well  calculated  for  a  remote 
residence  in  the  country.  They  have  the  best  log-house  we 
have  seen,  thoug-h  not  vet  finished.  Thev  have  two  chil- 
dren,  a  son  and  daughter,  the  eldest  about  five  years  old. 
Mr.  F.  says,  now  they  have  come  to  the  backwoods,  they 
are  to  have  no  more." 

Writing  again  to  his  wife,  he  says :  — 

*•  At  Mr.  Ph.  Erakcis's,  Monday  Morning,  August  4th. 

"  This  day,  were  to  have  set  off  for  Tioga,  but  my  horse 
has  wounded  himself,  and  is  unable  to  walk.  I  am  going 
down  to  General  Potter's  to  borrow  or  purchase  another,  and 
we  shall,  doubtless,  proceed  on  our  journey  to-morrow.  I  re- 
main in  perfect  health.  The  weather  has  been  rather  unpleas- 
ant for  several  days  on  account  of  the  rain,  and  so  cool  that 
last  night  I  slept  under  two  blankets." 

The  horse  was  so  badly  injured  that  another  had  to  be 
purchased.     The  price  w^as  £11    10s. 

On  Tuesday,  Messrs.  Richard,  James,  and  Charles 
Willing  joined  them ;  so  that  the  party  comprised  those 
gentlemen,  together  with  A.  Horton  and  Thomas  Francis, 
who  had  started  with  the  Colonel  from  Philadelphia, 
Mr.  Wallis  the  surveyor,  chain-carriers,  and  some  other 
hired  men.  They  rode  to  Northumberland  that  after- 
noon. On  Wednesday,  the  16th,  after  providing  some 
necessary  articles,  they  proceeded  to  then'  destination. 
On  Friday,  the  IHth.  thev  reached,  at  the  close  of  the 
day,  Wyoming,  now  Wilkesbarre. 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERIXG.  253 

On  Monday,  August  21st,  they  left  Wyoming,  and 
ascended  the  river,  having  hired  some  canoes  to  carry  sup- 
plies of  provisions  and  other  articles  that  could  not  well 
be  strapped  to  horses.  Much  difficulty  occurred  from 
the  canoes  becoming  leaky,  partly,  perhaps,  in  conse- 
quence of  overloading,  and  partly  from  incidents  to  which 
such  craft  are  liable  in  shallow  and  rough  places,  partic- 
ularly in  being  propelled  against  the  stream. 

The  next  evening.  Dr.  Binney  and  his  company  joined 
them.     Here  the  party  first  pitched  their  tents. 

xlt  noon,  Monday,  the  28th,  they  left  the  river,  and 
set  out  for  the  woods,  surveying,  as  they  went.  They 
had  horses  which,  however,  were  mostly  used  to  carry 
luggage,  provisions,  tents,  instruments,  and  other  accou- 
trements. But  little  progress  was  made  from  day  to  day. 
They  camped  out,  of  course,  every  night.  Their  pro- 
visions were  occasionally  variegated  by  game  from  the 
woods  and  brooks.  They  traversed  the  whole  north- 
eastern corner  of  Pennsylvania,  crossing  mountains, 
stru":i^lin2:  throus^h  thick-set  forests  and  bushes,  fordinsr 
streams,  remaining  under  their  tents  when  it  rained, 
and  carrying  their  lines  of  survey  over  rocks,  gullies, 
and  swamps.  After  roaming  in  this  way  through  the 
wilderness  for  three  weeks,  thev  came  out  at  Haller's 
Tavern,  about  two  miles  south  of  the  Wind-gap,  and 
reached  Philadelphia  on  Wednesday  night,  Septem- 
ber 20th. 

When  near  Tioga,  on  Saturday,  August  26th,  Colonel 
Pickering,  having  heard  that  his  neighbor  in  Pliiladelphia, 
David  Rittenhouse,  and  Simeon  De  Witt,  of  New  York, 
—  Commissioners  for  running  the  line  between  their  re- 
spective States,  —  were,  with  tlieir  attendants,  only  a  few 


254  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

miles  off,  left  bis  p;irty  and  made  them  a  visit,  spending 
the  greater  part  of  the  day  with  them,  conferring  in 
reference  to  the  business  in  which  they  were  all  en- 
gaged, visiting  with  them  a  part  of  their  line,  and  receiv- 
ing: much  valuable  information  from  them. 

Colonel  Pickering,  in  his  Journal,  describes  the  char- 
acter and  quality  of  the  soil  in  the  different  localities 
he  traversed,  and  of  the  natural  productions  of  the 
country  in  its  then  wild  state.  It  was  richly  and  heavily 
timbered  with  ash,  chestnut,  white  pine,  white  oak,  hem- 
lock, black  walnut,  and  every  other  variety  of  trees.  The 
surface  was  generally  uneven,  rising  at  greater  or  less 
distances,  and  in  all  directions,  into  hills.  Their  sum- 
mits, however,  were  not  always  rocky  and  in  ridges,  but 
often  spacious  levels  of  the  best  arable  land.  He  thus 
speaks  of  these  mountain  plains  :  — 

"  The  land  we  have  passed  over  this  day  "  [August  31] 
''  is  called  beecliland  ;  yet  it  contains  as  much  hemlock  as 
beech,  not  on  the  sides  of  steep  pitches  only,  near  the  runs, 
but  in  every  part  of  the  land.  Though  the  high  grounds  in 
the  beecliland  have  been  called  broad-backed  hills,  yet  I  had 
not  conceived  of  them  as  so  broad  as  I  found  them  ;  and,  when 
upon  them,  3'ou  would  not  imagine  you  were  on  a  hill. 
This  you  discover  only  when  you  come  to  the  valleys,  through 
which  were  runs  of  water.  We  observed  scarcely  a  rock  on 
the  surface  ;  but  small  stones  are  universally  mixed  with  the 
soil,  and  in  many  places  are  pretty  thick  on  the  surface  ; 
though  this  happens  chiefly  on  the  sides  of  the  hills,  along  the 
runs.    The  soil  has  uniformly  appeared  to  be  clayey." 

From  the  mouth  of  the  east  branch  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, through  its  whole  length,  there  are  ranges  of' 
hills  on  both  sides,  with  a  rich  meadow  between  them 
and  the  banks  of  the  river.     At  many  places,  upland  of 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  255 

various  width  interposes  between  the  meadows  and  the 
foot  of  the  hills.  These  meadows  or  flats  are  of  differ- 
ent depths,  sometimes  two  or  three  miles.  Occasionally, 
the  hills  come  dowTi  near  to  the  river,  within  an  eighth 
of  a  mile.  The  meadows,  often  overflowed  by  the  spring 
freshets,  and  receiving  their  deposits,  are  very  fertile. 
One  of  them,  just  below  Wilkesbarre,  is  thus  described : 

"  Leaving  Harvey's,  we  entered  on  the  Shawnee  plains, 
the  most  beautiful  tract  of  land  my  eyes  ever  beheld  !  The 
soil  appeared  to  be  inexhaustibly  fertile,  and,  though  under  very 
slovenly  husbandry,  the  crops  were  luxuriant,  and  the  Indian- 
corn  and  grass  of  the  richest  green.  Mr.  Wallis  said  they 
contained  about  one  thousand  acres.  I  should  have  supposed 
them  much  more  extensive."  [In  a  marginal  note  is  the  fol- 
lowing: "Subsequent  inquiries  induce  me  to  think  these 
plains  contain  near  two  thousand  acres."] 

"  Passing  over  some  commons  and  rising  grounds,  we  then 
came  to  another  extensive  plain,  similar  to  the  former,  but,  on 
the  whole,  less  beautiful.  Neat  and  industrious  husbandmen 
would  make  the  whole  a  garden." 

It  seems  by  this  journal  that,  in  the  outer  settlements 
of  Pennsylvania,  at  that  time,  and  even  where  the  rudi- 
ments of  what  are  now  large  and  handsome  cities  and 
towns  had  begun  to  form,  most  of  the  dwellings  were 
built  of  logs.  In  the  old  town  of  Reading,  many  of  the 
houses  were  of  this  description.  Beyond  that,  there 
was,  here  and  there,  a  framed  house,  and  a  very  few  of 
stone  or  brick.  In  Hamburg,  there  were  thirty  houses, 
all  of  logs.  At  Sunbury,  there  were  about  one  hundred. 
One  large  and  well-built  house  was  of  stone.  With  two 
or  three  exceptions,  all  the  rest  were  of  logs.  There 
was  a  wide  range  in  the  character  of  these  log-houses. 
Some  were  large,  commodious,  neat,  tight,  comfortable 


256  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

in  all  seasons,  and  in  all  respects  desirable.  Colonel 
Pickerins:  describes  this  better  sort  as  ''  hewed  and 
neatly  put  together  with  double  dovetails  at  the  corners, 
the  joints  between  the  logs  filled  with  small  stones,  and 
pointed  with  lime  and  mortar."  Below  these,  there  was 
every  grade,  down  to  what  were  mere  huts  or  hovels. 

Throughout  the  Wyoming  region,  the  vestiges  of  the 
ruin  with  which  it  had  been  so  often  visited,  as  described 
in  the  preceding  chapter,  were  everywhere  seen.  The 
exhausting  conflicts  between  Connecticut  and  Pennsyl- 
vania claimants  ;  the  repeated  expulsion  of  the  whole 
population  at  short  intervals  ;  the  loss  of  such  large  por- 
tions of  heads  of  families  and  able-bodied  men  at  the 
massacre  of  1778,  and  in  the  ranks  of  the  army  of  the 
Revolution ;  the  Indian  torches  that  burned  the  dwell- 
in«fs  to  the  ■  ground  ;  and  the  floods  that  swept  every 
thing  away,  in  whut ,\j^as ^ ever  after  spoken  of  as  "the 
greatyresA  of  1784," — left  the  stamp  of  devastation  and 
poverty  upon  the  entire  Valley,  and  which  long  years 
were  required  to  efface.  The  log-hovels  in  which  many 
of  the  inhabitants  dwelt  were  "  wretched  beyond  descrip- 
tion. In  a  great  part  of  them  there  is  no  chimney ;  but 
a  hole  is  left  in  the  roof,  through  which  the  smoke 
escapes." 

The  following  account  of  the  scene  of  the  interesting 
and  remarkable  portion  of  Colonel  Pickering's  life, 
upon  which  we  are  now  to  enter,  is  extracted  from  his 
journal :  — 

"  We  crossed  these  latter  plains,  and  came  to  Wyoming, 
on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river.  Wyoming  town  is  now  called 
Wilkesbarre  ;  and  the  phrase,  Wyoming  ^9eop?e,  comprehends 
all  tlie  settlers  from  Nescopeck  Creek  to  Tioga ;  for  through 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY    PICKERING.  257 

that  whole  extent  of  country  (being  upwards  of  a  hundred 
and  ten  miles),  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  they  have  taken 
possession. 

"  Wilkesbarre  was  a  pitch-pine  plain,  though  pretty  fertile  ; 
but  by  no  means  comparable  with  the  flats  before  described. 
Its  surface  is  considerably  higher  than  that  of  the  flats,  and, 
being  of  a  drier,  firmer  soil,  is  a  more  suitable  plat  for  a 
town.  Much  of  it,  however,  was  overflowed  in  the  great  fresh 
of  the  spring  of  1784.  This  town  was  originally  divided  into 
town  lots,  meadow  lots,  and  back  lots.  The  first  containing 
three  acres,  the  second  thirty-five,  and  the  last  two  hundred 
and  fiftv  acres.  Then  each  settler  drew  for  his  lot  in  each 
division.  By  this  manner  of  dividing  the  lands,  great  incon- 
venience arises  to  the  farmer.  His  dwelling-house  is  on  the 
pitch-pine  plain.  His  meadow,  a  mile  or  more  from  it,  on  one 
side,  and  his  back-lot,  perhaps  still  farther  removed,  on  the 
other  side  of  his  dwellings. 

"  Both  at  Wyoming  and  at  Kingston,  on  the  other  side  of 
the  river,  over  against  it,  the  upland  rises  gradually  to  the 
mountains,  which  are  distant  two  and  three  miles  from  the 
Susquehanna ;  where,  as  at  Plymouth  (which  comprehends 
the  Shawnee  flats),  the  mountainous  lands  run  down  close 
upon  the  flats,  which  puts  the  inhabitants  to  great  difficulty 
in  pitching  their  houses ;  for  the  flats  are  too  low  to  build  on, 
and  the  side  of  the  mountain  too  steep  and  rocky. 

"  The  flats,  on  one  side  or  the  other  of  the  Susquehanna, 
and  frequently  on  both  sides,  continue  of  considerable  breadth, 
for  about  twenty  miles  from  their  beginning,  above  Nanticoke 
Falls.  The  whole  are  occupied  by  the  Connecticut  people 
and  their  adherents." 

The  two  most  important  personages  in  the  Wyoming 
Valley  at  this  time  were  John  Franklin  and  Zebulon 
Butler.  Thev  were  both  Connecticut  settlers,  and  had 
each  been  prominently  engaged  in  the  conflicts  that  had 
convulsed  that  territory.  The  former  had  distini^uished 
himself  by  acts  of  great  gallantry  on  several  occasions. 

Vol.  II.  17 


258  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

The  latter  led  the  Connecticut  forces  that  finally  recon- 
quered the  country.  Colonel  Pickering  was  well  ac- 
quainted with  Butler,  who,  it  will  be  remembered,  was 
in  command  at  Wyoming  on  the  fatal  3d  of  July,  when 
the  British  and  Indians  fvW  upon  it,  and  escaped  from 
the  field  of  carnage  after  the  day  was  lost  with  only 
about  a  dozen  of  his  men.  The  correspondence  between 
him  and  Colonel  Pickering  at  the  time  has  been  related 
in  the  preceding  chapter.  It  does  not  appear  that 
Pickering,  before  this  visit  to  Wyoming,  had  ever  seen 
Franklin.  They  were  brought  afterwards  into  collisions 
of  the  most  critical  kind.  Franklin  became  the  leader 
of  the  insurgent  Connecticut  settlers.  Butler  discoun- 
tenanced and  opposed  them.  All  the  circumstances 
connected  with  the  course  of  these  two  men,  before  and 
afterwards,  give  interest  to  the  following  passage  from 
Colonel  Pickering's  Journal,  under  date  of  August 
20th,  while  he  w^as  at  Wyoming :  — 

"  Colonel  Zebulon  Butler  and  Colonel  Franklin  spent  the 
evening  with  ns  very  sociably.  Mr.  Franklin  appears  to  be 
the  leader  of  the  warm  supporters  of  the  claim  of  the  Susque- 
hanna Company  against  Pennsylvania.  Nothing  was  said  on 
that  subject.  In  the  morning,  having  called  to  see  Colonel 
Butler,  he  invited  me  to  take  breakfast ;  during  which  time  I 
made  some  inquiries  relative  to  the  dispute,  and  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  meeting  of  the  settlers  the  day  before.  At  this 
meeting  were  present  such  settlers  as  chose  to  attend  from 
Tioga  downwards  (yet,  I  have  since  learned  that  the  whole 
number  present  amounted  to  but  sixty).  I  found  that  Colonel 
Butler  had  prudently  resolved  to  accept  no  office  whatever 
among  these  people,  except  that  of  moderator  of  their  meet- 
ings, when  they  should  choose  him.  He  was  moderator  of 
the  meeting  yesterday.  Their  principal  business  was  to  con- 
sider and  determine  for  what  extent  of  country  they  should 


LIEE   OF   TBIOTHY  PICKERING.  259 

make  their  claim  to  the  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania.  They 
concluded  to  ask  for  the  whole  Indian  Purchase,  beofinnino- 
ten  miles  east  of  the  north-east  branch  of  the  Susquehanna 
(as  it  runs),  and  extending  westward  two  degrees  of  longi- 
tude. Its  breadth,  north  and  south,  I  did  not  ascertain  ;  but 
suppose  it  corresponds  with  the  breadth  of  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut. In  the  deed  of  j)urchase  (as  Colonel  Butler  said), 
two  degrees  of  longitude,  or  one  hundred  and  tioenty  miles^  on 
the  erroneous  idea  that,  in  this  latitude,  a  degree  of  longitude 
was  the  same  as  at  the  equator. 

"  Messrs.  Franklin  and  Jenkins  are  chosen  agents  to  pre- 
sent their  claim  (or  petition)  to  the  Assembly  ;  and  a  messen- 
ger is  gone  to  the  President  and  Council  to  ask  a  passport  for 
them.  It  would  seem  that  the}'  make  this  large  claim,  not 
with  a  confidence  of  its  being  acceded  to,  but  from  an  ex- 
pectation of  obtaining  more  than  if  they  asked  but  little. 
Such  of  the  old  settlers  as  I  have  conversed  with,  would  be 
satisfied,  if  quieted  in  their  possessions,  prior  to  the  decision 
of  the  Continental  Court  at  Trenton.  These  possessions  mean 
the  lots  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  three  hundred  acres,  on 
which  they  had  seated  themselves  and  made  some  improve- 
ments before  that  dav.  These  settlers,  and  the  heirs  of  such 
of  them  as  have  died,  are  supposed  to  amount  to  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  families.  The  new-comers  may  amount  to 
as  many  more  ;  and  these,  having  obtained  grants  of  half- 
shares  (whence  they  are  called  half-shares  men~)  from  the 
Susquehanna  Company,  on  condition  of  their  residing  in 
the  settlement  and  defending  the  land,  contend  warmly  for 
the  whole  Indian  purchase.  Some  of  the  old  settlers  also,  being 
partners  in  the  company^  still  persist  in  this  extensive 
claim." 

The  time  occupied  in  this  tour  was  forty-eight  days, 
and  the  distance  traversed  not  far  from  six  hundred 
miles.  An  opportunity  had  been  given  to  form  a  correct 
idea  of  the  country,  of  its  condition,  and  of  the  state  of 
mind  among  the  people.  The  explorations  and  inquiries 
had  been  very  minute  and  complete. 


260  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

The  result  was  entirely  satisfactory  to  Colonel  Picker- 
ing, and  he  returned  to  Philadelphia  wholly  resolved  to 
settle  at  Wyoming,  and  attempt  to  bring  all  the  dissen- 
sions there  to  a  close.  He  forthwith  signified  to  friends, 
who  solicited  him  to  that  effect,  that  he  was  ready  to 
engage  in  the  enterprise,  wrote  to  his  family  connec- 
tions in  Massachusetts  that  ''the  die  was  cast,"  and 
commenced  preparations  for  removal.  The  county  of 
Luzerne  was  established  by  the  Pennsylvania  legislature, 
and  the  necessary  steps  were  taken  to  confer  upon 
him  its  principal  offices. 

The  account  so  far  given  has  been  gathered  from 
papers  written  at  the  time. 

It  may  be  well  at  this  point  to  present  an  extmct  of 
some  length,  illustrating  more  particularly  this  passage 
of  his  historv,  from  a  document  alreadv  referred  to.  At 
the  request  of  his  family,  and  to  gratify  some  personal 
friends,  he  prepared  an  account  of  his  experiences  at 
Wyoming,  as  recollected  after  the  lapse  of  a  long  period 
of  years.  There  maybe  some  minute  points  as  to  dates, 
the  exact  sequence  of  events,  and  the  views  expressed 
of  persons  and  things,  which  may  admit  of  correction. 
The  local  antiquaries  of  that  interesting  region  will  sup- 
ply details  that  will  make  the  picture  more  exact  than 
it  appeared  to  contemporaries,  and  straighten  out  what, 
in  the  confusion  of  the  times,  may  have  been  somewhat 
distorted.  But  the  recollections  of  an  honest  and  exact 
mind  are  free  from  the  mists  which  vague  tradition 
gathers  over  the  past.  The  statements  of  such  a  wit- 
ness and  actor  in  the  scenes  described,  as  Colonel  Pick- 
ering, are  clothed  with  the  highest  authority,  and  will  be 
duly  estimated,  in  combination  with  all  other  evidence,  by 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  261 

historians  who  may  undertake  to  treat  the  subject.  Of 
one  thing  all  may  be  sure,  that  the  transactions,  as  they 
rested  in  the  mind  of  Colonel  Pickering,  are  given  by 
him  with  perfect  and  absolute  truthfuhiess.  His  mem- 
ory was  very  precise,  and  retained,  with  great  clearness, 
the  details  of  his  observation  and  experience,  all  along 
the  track  of  his  eventful  and  protracted  career.  The 
document  will  be  cited,  as  the  events  are  narrated,  and 
in  connection  with  private  letters  and  other  papers  writ- 
ten at  the  time,  which,  to  a  remarkable  degree  show  the. 
accuracy  of  his  memory.  It  was  addressed  to  his  son 
Henry;  dated  December  31st,  1818;  and  printed  in 
1819.     The  title-page  is  as  follows  :  — 

"  [Not  published.]  A  Letter  from  Colonel  Pickering, 
containing  a  Narrative  of  the  Outrage  committed  on  him  at 
Wyoming  ;  with  an  Account  of  the  Controversies  respecting 
the  Lands  claimed  by  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and  Connecti- 
cut, which  led  to  that  Event." 

After  a  general  historical  statement  of  occurrences 
growing  out  of  the  conflict  of  jurisdiction  between  the 
two  States,  and  a  discussion  of  the  pretensions  of  them 
respectively,  with  some  criticisms  upon  the  conduct  of 
various  parties  involved  in  the  dispute;  bringing  it  down  to 
the  period  of  his  action  relating  to  it,  he  proceeds 
thus  :  — 

"  Such  was  the  state  of  things,  when  I  was  requested  by 
several  of  my  respectable  friends  in  Philadelphia,  where  I 
then  resided,  to  accept  of  a  mission  from  the  legislature,  to 
attempt  a  reconciliation  and  submission  of  the  Connecticut 
settlers  to  the  government  of  Pennsylvania.  It  was  the 
autumn  of  1786.  In  September,  I  had  passed  through  their 
settlements,  on  my  way  with  a  surveyor  and  two  other  gentle- 
men, to  view  that  body  of  lands  in  and  about  the  great  bend  of 
the  Susquehanna,  in  which  I  was  interested,  and  to  whicli  I  had 


262  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

then  thought  of  removing,  not  having  business  in  Philadel- 
phia to  maintain  my  family.  I  saw  the  Starucca  tract,  and 
there  I  had  contemplated  pitching  my  tent :  the  same  tract 
on  which  3'our  brother  Timothy  settled,  in  1801. 

''  Iliivino'  received  some  information  of  the  mischievous 
dispute  relative  to  the  Wyoming  lands,  I  embraced  every  op- 
})ortunity,  while  passing  among  the  settlers,  to  learn  their 
feeHngs,  and  ascertain  the  footing  on  which  their  peaceable 
submission  to  Pennsylvania  might  be  effected. 

"  On  my  return  home  to  Philadelphia,  Mr.  Wilson,  then 
a  distinguished  lawyer  at  the  Philadelphia  bar,  and  after- 
wards a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States, 
called  to  see  me ;  and  he  diligently  inquired  concerning 
the  temper  and  desires  of  the  Connecticut  settlers.  I  in- 
formed him  that  they  were  entirely  satisfied  with  the  Con- 
stitution of  Pennsylvania,  and  were  ready  to  submit  to  its 
government,  provided  they  could  he  quieted  in  the  possession  of 
their  farms.  They  had  settled  them,  they  said,  in  the  fullest 
confidence  that  they  were  covered  by  the  charter  of  Connecti- 
cut ;  they  had  made  very  valuable  improvements,  built  houses 
and  barns,  and  raised  good  stocks  of  cattle,  and  abundance  of 
the  necessaries  of  life,  —  when  the  whole  were  laid  waste  and 
destroyed  by  the  common  eneniy,  in  1778  —  and,  more  than 
all  these  things,  a  great  number  of  their  brethren  had  perished 
in  battle  :  that  from  these  calamities  they  had  not  recovered ; 
they  were  poor,  and  incapable  of  removing  and  seeking  new 
settlements. 

"  The  next  news  I  teard  on  this  subject  was  from  m}^  friend 
Dr.  Rush.  He  told  me  that  the  General  Assembly,  then  sit- 
ting in  Philadelphia,  had  just  passed  a  law  erecting  the  Wyom- 
ing .settlement,  and  a  large  extent  of  country  above  and 
below  it,  into  a  new  county,  by  the  name  of  Luzerne  ;  that 
the  usual  county  offices  would  be  created,  all  of  which  would 
be  conferred  on  me,  if  I  would  accept  them.  That  being  a 
New  England  man,  the  Connecticut  settlers  would  place  a 
confidence  in  my  information  and  advice,  which  they  would 
be  inclined  to  withhold  from  a  Pennsylvanian  ;  and  thus  I 
might  be  the  happy  instrument  of  putting  an  end  to  an  invet- 
erate and  disastrous  controversy. 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  263 

"  Mr.  Wilson  also  encouraged  and  advised  me  to  take  the 
step  proposed  by  Doctor  Rush.  And,  after  taking  time  for 
consideration,  I  informed  Mr.  Wilson  that  I  would  engage  in 
this  husiness,  2?rovided  I  might  assure  the  Connecticut  settlers 
that  the  legislature  would  quiet  them  i)i  their  jjossessioyis.  I 
particularly  asked  his  opinion  as  a  lawyer,  as  I  also  did  that 
of  Miers  Fisher,  a  distinguished  lawyer  of  the  Society  of 
Quakers,  *  whether  an  act  of  the  legislature  would  be  com- 
petent for  that  purpose,  against  the  claims  of  Pennsylvanians, 
under  titles  to  the  same  lands,  derived  from  the  proprietaries  ; 
or,  rather,  whether  the  power  of  the  legislature  was  competent 
to  enact  such  a  law.''  Both  the  gentlemen  answered  in  the 
affirmative,  to  accomplish  a  very  great  public  good. 

'•'•  With  this  understanding,  I  received  from  the  executive 
appointments  to  various  county  offices  ;  and  an  act  of  the 
legislature  authorized  me  to  hold  elections  of  such  officers 
for  the  county  as  were  in  the  choice  of  the  people  ;  and,  in 
a  word,  to  organize  the  county. 

"  The  first  object  was,  to  reconcile  the  Connecticut  settlers 
to  the  government  of  Pennsylvania.  For  this  purpose  I  went 
to  Wyoming  in  January,  1787  ;  called  meetings  of  them  in  their 
villages  ;  announced  the  erection  of  the  new  county,  by  which, 
in  all  suits  at  law,  justice  would  meet  them  at  their  own 
doors ;  and,  in  jury  trials,  they  would  be  safe  in  the  hands  of 
their  peers,  their  neighbors,  instead  of  being  dragged  a  great 
distance  from  their  homes  and  tried  by  Pennsylvanians,  ad- 
herents of  Penn,  wliom  they  deemed  hostile  to  their  equitable 
rights.  I  spent  a  month  among  them,  and  with  great  diffi- 
culty succeeded,  on  the  ground  of  their  being  quieted  in 
their  possessions ;  assuring  them  that  I  had  strong  reasons 
to  express  the  opinion  that  the  legislature  would  pass  a  law 
for  that  purpose.  But  just  as  I  was  closing  prosperously,  as 
I  thought,  my  month's  labor,  a  pretty  shrewd  man,  John 
Jenkins,  a  major  of  their  militia,  the  second*  leader  in  the 


*  "  The  first,  a  man,  able,  bold,  and  energetic,  was  John  FrankUn,  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  and  wlio,  at  this  time,  was  in  Connecticut,  consulting  with  the 
Susquehanna  Company  (or  its  active  members)  on  the  means  of  defeating  the 
pacific  measures  of  Pennsylvania  here  mentioned.     Such  are  my  impressions  of 


2G4  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

« 

couutry,  in  the  interests  of  the  Susquehanna-  Company,  rose 
and  said,  they  had  too  often  experienced  the  bad  faith  of 
Pennsylvania  to  place  confidence  in  any  new  measure  of  its 
legislature  ;  and  that  if  they  should  enact  a  quieting  law,  they 
tvould  repeal  it,  as  soon  as  the  Connecticut  settlers  submitted, 
and  were  completely  saddled  with  the  laws  of  the  State.  This 
was  prophetic  ;  but  I  had  then  no  faith  in  the  prophecy.  A 
new  argument  then  occurred  to  me,  and  it  was  my  last.  I 
remarked,  that,  whatever  might  have  been  the  conduct-  of 
Pennsylvania  in  times  past,  I  was  perfectly  satisfied  that  now 
she  was  amicably  disposed,  and  sincerely  desirous  of  a  fair 
accommodation ;  and  that,  if  its  legislature  should  once  pass 
a  law  to  quiet  them  in  their  possessions,  it  would  never  be 
repealed.  And  to  give  them  the  strongest  evidence  in  my 
power  that  my  confidence  was  not  misplaced,  I  observed  that 
all  the  offices  conferred  upon  me  were  of  small  value  because 
of  the  scanty  population  of  the  county  ;  that  I  should  need 
some  other  resource  to  maintain  my  family,  such  as  the  prod- 
ucts of  a  farm  ;  that  I  would  therefore  purchase  of  any  of 
them,  who  had  land  to  sell,  what  would  be  sufficient  for  a 
farm  ;  that,  in  doing  this,  I  would  purchase  the  Connecticut 
title  only,  and  thus  place  myself  precisely  on  a  footing  with 
them  ;  and  that  if,  as  I  confidently  expected,  a  quieting  law 
passed,  I  should  hold  the  land ;  if  not,  I  should  lose  it.  A 
number  of  the  persons  present  (and  it  was  a  public  meeting) 
immediately  declared  they  could  ask  no  more. 

"  I  then  recommended  to  them  to  petition  the  legislature, 
which  was  in  session  at  Philadelphia,  to  enact  a  law  to  quiet 
them  in  their  possessions.  They  requested  me  to  write  a 
petition  for  them.  I  did  so.  The  great  body  of  the  settlers 
signed  it.  I  carried  it  to  Philadelphia,  and  presented  it  to 
the  legislature.  It  was  referred  to  a  committee,  who  promptly 
made  a  rei3ort  favorable  to  the  petitioners  ;  and  the  committee 


the  fact,  from  what  I  then  heard  ;  and  the  actual  state  of  things,  joined  with 
the  events  of  1787  and  1788,  warrants  the  conclusion. 

"  The  father  of  this  Major  Jenkins  liad  been  a  leading  man,  and  one  of  the 
Judges  of  the  County  Court,  wlien  Connecticut  exercised  a  jurisdiction  over 
them.    He  had  died  before  I  ever  saw  that  country." 


LITE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  265 

were  directed  to  bring  in  a  bill  accordingly.  The  committee 
put  their  report  into  my  hands,  and  requested  me  to  draw 
the  bill.  I  made  a  draught,  which  was  necessarily  long,  to 
provide  for  the  various  matters  incident  to  the  quieting  and 
confiiming  of  the  Connecticut  claims.  The  principal  diffi- 
culty arose  out  of  the  claims  of  a  considerable  number  of  per- 
sons who  had  received  grants  of  the  best  parts  of  the  same 
tracts  of  which  the  Connecticut  settlers  were  possessed, — 
grants  made  prior  to  the  Revolution,  under  the  authority  of 
the  Penn  proprietaries,  to  whom  belonged  all  the  vacant  land 
in  the  State,  as  heirs  of  William  Penn,  the  original  patentee 
of  the  whole  province.  If  the  lands  purchased  of  the  pro- 
prietaries were  to  be  taken  from  the  purchasers,  to  quiet  the 
Connecticut  settlers,  justice  required  that  those  purchasers 
should  receive  an  equivalent.  If  at  that  time  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania  had  been  possessed  of  adequate  funds,  those 
purchasers  might  have  been  indemnified  out  of  the  public 
treasury :  but  the  State  had  no  money,  and  the  State  certifi- 
cates, like  those  of  the  United  States,  were  then  worth  only 
four  or  five  shillings  in  the  pound.  It  was  in  the  power  of 
the  State,  however,  to  give  a  complete  indemnity  without 
increasing  its  financial  burthens.  There  were  some  millions 
of  acres  of  new,  unappropriated  lands,  of  which  the  Indian 
title  had  three  years  before  been  extinguished.  These  were 
at  the  disposal  of  the  State.  I  therefore  introduced  into  the 
bill  a  section  to  provide  for  an  equitable  appraisement  of  the 
tracts  claimed  by  the  Pennsylvanians  in  the  Wyoming  terri- 
tory, and,  in  lieu  thereof,  authorizing  them  to  locate,  where 
they  pleased,  in  the  great  body  of  vacant  lands,  such  quanti- 
ties as  would  be  equivalent  to  those  lost  at  Wyoming ;  not 
acre  for  acre,  but  value  for  value. 

''  The  bill,  with  very  small  alterations,  was  enacted  into  a 
law.  Commissioners,  of  whom  I  was  one,  were  appointed 
to  examine  the  claims  on  both  sides  :  those  of  the  Connecticut 
settlers  to  ascertain  who  were  entitled  to  hold  by  the  terms 
of  the  quieting  and  confirming  law ;  those  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vanians to  ascertain  the  quantity  and  a})praise  the  value  of 
each  tract. 

*'  Here  it  is  necessary  to  mention  the  rule  of  discrimination 


266  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

1 

prescribed  by  the  confirming  law,  in  regard  to  the  Connecti- 
cut settlers. 

"  The  decision  of  the  federal  court,  at  Trenton,  on  the  con- 
troversy between  Pennsylvania  and  Connecticut,  was  made 
on  the  30th  of  December,  1782,  in  the  words  following  :  — 

'* '  This  cause  has  been  well  argued  by  the  learned  counsel 
on  both  sides.  The  court  are  now  to  pronounce  their  sen- 
tence or  judgment. 

"  *  We  are  unanimously  of  opinion,  that  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut has  no  right  to  the  lands  in  controversy. 

'' '  We  are  also  unanimously  of  opinion,  that  the  jurisdiction 
and  pre-emption  of  all  the  territory  lying  within  the  charter 
boundary  of  Pennsylvania,  and  now  claimed  by  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  do  of  right  belong  to  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.' 

"  This  decision,  pursuant  to  the  Articles  of  the  Confedera- 
tion of  the  States,  was  final.  But  although  the  state-claim  of 
Connecticut  was  thus  for  ever  barred,  the  case  of  the  inno- 
cent settlers,  under  that  claim,  was  entitled  to  commiseration  ; 
and  I  early  understood  that  the  judges  of  the  court  recom- 
mended it  to  the  government  of  Penns}  Ivania,  to  make  some 
equitable  provision  for  their  relief,  —  a  recommendation  to 
which  that  government  paid  no  regard.  In  drawing  the  bill 
for  the  confirming  law,  I  marked  the  line  between  the  settlers 
jprior  to  the  decree  of  Trenton,  and  subsequent  settlers :  the 
former  entered  m  full  faith  of  the  right  of  Connecticut ;  the 
latter  entered  with  their  eyes  open,  —  with  the  knowledge 
that  the  competent  court  had  decided  that  Connecticut  had 
no  right :  the  former  only  were  to  be  quieted  in  their  posses- 
sions. 

"  The  Susquehanna  Company,  claiming  solely  under  the 
State  of  Connecticut,  ought,  like  the  State,  to  have  aban- 
doned their  claim  ;  but,  defeated  at  law,  they  had  recourse  to 
intrigue,  and  all  the  arts  of  disingenuous  and  cunning  men. 
In  addition  to  the  actual  settlers  at  the  time  of  the  decree, 
they  invited  and  encouraged  emigration,  from  the  States  east- 
ward of  Penns3'lvania,  of  all  men  destitute  of  property,  who 
could  be  tempted  by  the  gratuitous  offer  of  lands ;  on  the 
single  condition  that  they  should  enter  upon  them  armed^ 
'  to  man  their  rights,'  in  the   cant  phrase  of  those  people. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  267 

These  emigrants  were  called  '  half-share  men,'  and  were  to 
have  each  half  of  a  share  in  a  township,  which,  I  believe,  was 
one  hundred  and  sixty  or  two  hundred  acres ;  a  whole  share 
being  three  hundred  and  twenty  or  four  hundred  acres.  By  this 
management,  the  Susquehanna  Company  hoped  to  pour  in  such 
a  mass  of  young  and  able-bodied  men,  as  w^ould  appear  formi- 
dable to  the  government  of  Pennsylvania  ;  and  to  subdue  and 
expel  whom  would  require  a  considerable  military  force,  to  be 
raised  and  maintained  at  a  heavy  expense  of  treasure,  and 
perhaps  of  blood  ;  and  that,  to  avoid  the  evils  of  such  internal 
war,  Pennsylvania  might  be  induced  to  a  compromise ;  not 
merely  to  quiet  the  actual  settlers  prior  to  the  decree  of  Tren- 
ton, and  the  half-share  men  also,  but  to  permit  the  company 
to  take,  if  not  their  whole  pretended  Indian  purchase,  —  one 
hundred  and  twent}^  miles  in  length,  and  in  breadth  about  a 
degree  of  latitude,  —  yet  so  much  as  would  make  all  the  mem- 
bers rich.  Such  a  project,  to  be  accomphshed  by  such  des- 
perate and  flagitious  means,  it  might  be  expected  would  meet 
no  countenance  from,  much  less  be  the  very  offspring,  of  men 
of  whom  some  were  of  respectable  standing  in  Connecticut ; 
yet  such  was  the  fact,  and  such  men,  with  their  associates, 
were  the  authors  of  the  outrages  committed  upon  me,  while 
I  resided  at  Wyoming." 

The  foregoing  extracts  from  Colonel  Pickering's  cor- 
respondence, "Journal  and  Letter,"  written  in  1818, 
cover  the  first  period  into  which  his  Wyoming  expe- 
rience may  be  divided,  —  including  his  visit  to  the  terri- 
tory in  August  and  September,  1786,  preliminary  to  his 
deciding  whether  to  settle  there,  to  his  return  to  Phila- 
delphia ;  and  also  his  second  visit,  in  which  he  spent  the 
months  of  January  and  February,  17b7,  making  arrange- 
ments, on  the  spot,  to  provide  for  a  permanent  residence 
in  his  new  home,  and  to  adjust  the  questions  that  had 
so  long  agitated  and  distressed  the  population  of  that 
region.     It  is  apparent  that  he  was  sanguine  in  the  be- 


268  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

lief  that  he  had  made  favorable  progress  in  securing  the 
public  cuds  the  government  of  Pennsylvauia  had  in  view 
in  creating  the  new  county  and  placing  its  administi*a- 
tion  in  his  hands. 

Some  letters  he  wrote,  at  or  near  the  time,  are  pre- 
sented, at  this  point,  in  whole  or  in  part.  The  matter 
of  them,  to  a  considerable  degree,  belongs  to  the  sphere 
of  common  every-day  life,  and  to  business  or  domestic 
details,  regarded  by  many,  perhaps,  as  not  of  sufficient 
general  interest  or  importance  to  be  embodied  in  history. 
The  design  of  this  biography,  however,  is  to  present  its 
subject,  not  exclusively  in  his  public  career,  but  in  his 
private  walk,  describing  his  character  and  course  of 
action  in  the  ordinary  scenes  and  duties  of  the  house- 
hold and  homestead.  He  considered  them  the  most  in- 
teresting scenes,  and  the  most  honorable  duties,  of 
human  life  and  experience.  The  head  of  a  family  was, 
in  his  estimation,  a  higher  position  than  senates,  cabinets, 
or  armies  can  offer;  and  to  its  minutest  obligations  he 
was  ever  faithful,  however  far  distant,  or  however  ele- 
vated the  official  posts  he  occupied. 

The  following  letters  show  the  steps  he  took  in  pur- 
chasing a  house  lot,  and  relate  the  cares  and  labors 
incident  to  the  removal  of  his  family  through  a  wilder- 
ness, and  preparing  for  it  a  habitation  with  the  requisite 
provisions  and  available  comforts.  Agricultural  mate- 
rials and  implements,  household  utensils,  manufacturing 
tools,  and  miscellaneous  articles  of  all  sorts,  have  to  be 
thought  of,  besides  necessary  food  and  clothing.  It 
may,  upon  the  whole,  prove  not  unacceptable  to  the 
readers  of  these  pages  to  catch  an  insight  of  a  form  of 
life,  of  which  modern  experience,  as  a  general  thing, 


LIEE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  269 

affords  no  information.  The  difficulties  encountered, 
and  the  hardships  endured,  in  opening  a  residence,  and 
maintaining  a  family,  when  it  could  only  be  reached 
by  slow  and  toilsome  labors  of  the  oar,  against  the  current 
of  rivers,  by  a  round-about  course,  and  by  traversing 
pathless  woods,  are  not  known  to  the  remotest  or  the 
humblest  settlers  in  our  day,  who  are  carried,  with  their 
families,  goods,  and  furniture,  upon  railroads,  whose  level 
ti'acks  stretch  over  valleys,  cut  through  mountains,  pene- 
trate the  central  wildernesses,  and  span  the  continent ;  or 
up  rivers,  in  light- draught  steamboats,  with  speed  unim- 
peded by  winds  or  currents,  and  threading  interior 
streams  almost  to  their  sources. 

Colonel  Pickering,  it  will  be  seen,  at  once  set  his 
energies  at  work  in  an  attempt  to  open  a  shorter  and 
easier  route  between  Wyoming  and  Philadelphia. 

Philadelphia,  March  20th,  1787. 
"Me.  Jedidiah  Hide, 

"  Sir, 

"  When  I  was  at  Wyoming,  in  February  last,  I  purchased 
of  Captain  Spalding  half  of  the  meadow  lot,  of  a  back  lot,  and 
of  a  five-acre  lot,  which  were  the  late  Colonel  Durkee's.  He 
told  me  that  the  other  half  of  those  lots  belonged  to  you,  and 
that  you  was  desirous  of  selling  it,  and  for  this  purpose  de- 
sired him  to  advise  you  when  he  sold,  that  the  whole  might 
go  together.  I  intended  to  make  you  an  offer  of  the  same 
price  I  gave  him  ;  this  was  sixty-five  pounds,  Pennsylvania 
currency,  or  173^  dollars,  pa3^able  one  half  on  the  loth  Sep- 
tember next,  and  the  other  half  on  the  first  of  May,  1788. 
However,  if  different  periods  of  payment  would  suit  you 
better,  we  should  not  differ  on  that  account.  There  appears 
to  be  a  prospect  of  peace  to  that  unhappy  country,  and  if  the 
laws  of  Pennsylvania  are  submitted  to,  I  shall  go  there  to 
live,  to  execute  some  civil  offices  to  which  I  am  appointed. 

"  You,  perhaps,  might  have  been  willing  to  take  less  than  I 


270  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

agreed  to  give  Captain  Spalding ;  but  I  supposed  you  would 
like  to  know  what  that  was,  and  therefore  t  have  candidly 
told  you  ;  as  well  as  of  tlie  prospect  of  the  Wyoming  quarrel, 
without  whicli  settlement,  indeed,  the  lands  there  would  be 
of  little  value. 

"  I  am  a  stranger  to  you,  and  therefore  request  you  to  apply 
to  Mr.  Aaron  Cleveland,  whom  I  have  requested  to  treat  with 
you  on  the  subject.     Or,  if  you  have  a  friend  in  this  city,  you 
can  authorize  him  to  act  for  you  in  this  matter. 
"  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 

"  TrvioTHY  Pickering." 

"  Philadelphia,  March  20th,  1787. 
"Mr.  Aaron  Cleveland, 

"  Having  been  appointed  to  some  public  offices  in  the 
county  of  Luzerne  in  this  State  (which  county  comprehends 
the  Wyoming  lands),  I  was  authorized  by  the  General  As- 
sembly, in  conjunction  with  Colonel  Butler  and  Mr.  Franklin, 
to  hold  an  election  there.  Franklin  was  absent,  but  Colonel 
Butler  joined  me,  and  with  much  labor  and  difficulty  we  per- 
suaded the  people  to  elect  a  Councillor,  Representative,  &c. 
The  Councillor,  Colonel  Denison,  has  taken  his  seat  in  Coun- 
cil, but  Mr.  Franklin  has  stayed  at  home,  dissatisfied  (as  I  am 
well  informed)  at  there  having  been  an  election ;  and  he 
may  probably  continue  his  opposition  to  the  measures  pursu- 
ing by  government  for  giving  peace  to  that  unhappy  country. 
However,  I  am  disposed  to  believe  that  peace  is  not  far  dis- 
tant ;  for  I  think  those  measures  will  give  general  satisfaction. 
I  shall  in  consequence  move  up  to  that  country  with  my 
family.  When  there,  last  winter,  I  was  informed  that  you 
owned  a  to>vn  lot  in  Wilkesbarre,  and  that  you  would  prob- 
ably be  willing  to  sell  ii ;  if  so,  and  you  will  inform  me  of 
the  terms,  or  authorize  any  friend  of  yours  here  to  sell  it,  and 
we  agree  as  to  the  price,  I  will  purchase  it.  I  observed  a 
clump  of  young  apple-trees  on  the  plain,  which,  it  was  said, 
were  in  your  lot.  As  they  are  exposed  to  the  cattle,  and  may 
not  probably  be  wanted  for  the  lot  on  which  they  stand,  I 
shall  be  greatly  obliged  if  you  will  give  me  leave  to  remove 
them :  what  they  are  worth  I  shall  be  willing  to  pay. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  271 

"  You  may  perhaps  recollect  me.  I  think  I  saw  you  at 
Salem  (^lassachusetts),  where  I  then  lived.  I  believe  it  was 
at  your  relation's,  Mrs.  Higginson.  On  the  ground  of  that 
connection,  I  will  ask  your  friendship  to  assist  me  in  bargain- 
ing for  one  half  the  right,  in  Wilkesbarre,  which  belonged  to 
Colonel  Durkee,  and  which  was  sold  by  his  son  John  to  Cap- 
tain Spalding  and  (as  I  am  informed)  Mr.  Jedidiah  Hide,  of 
Norwich.  When  at  Wyoming  I  bought  Spalding's  half  (viz. 
half  the  meadow  lot,  half  a  five-acre  lot,  and  half  the  back 
lot),  for  sixty-five  pounds  Pennsylvania  currency.  Captain 
Spalding  told  me  that  Mr.  Hide  desired  him  to  let  him  know 
when  he  sold,  because  the  Avhole  lot  together,  he  supposed, 
w^ould  sell  better  than  in  halves.  When  I  purchased  of  Spal- 
ding, it  was  in  expectation  that  I  could  purchase  Mr.  Hide's 
half.  I  now  beg  the  favor  of  you  to  see  Mr.  Hide,  and,  in  my 
behalf,  to  treat  with  him  for  his  interest  afore-mentioned.  I 
shall  write  to  Mr.  Hide  (but  I  am  not  certain  whether  I  am 
right  in  his  Christian  name),  and  as  I  am  a  stranger  to  him, 
beg  leave  to  refer  him  to  you  for  further  information.  I  am 
to  pay  Captain  Spalding  one  half  his  money  the  loth  Septem- 
ber next,  and  the  other  half  on  the  1st  of  May,  1788.  If 
Mr.  Hide  does  not  apply  to  you,  I  beg  you  will  see  him  as 
soon  as  you  can  with  convenience.  Please  to  direct  to  me 
at  Philadelphia.  If  I  should  be  gone,  Mr.  Samuel  Hodgdon, 
my  friend,  will  act  on  my  behalf.  I  expect  shortly  to  go  to 
Wyoming,  to  bring  forward  an  election  of  justices  of  the 
peace. 

"  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

"  ToioTHY  Pickering." 

"  Philadelphia,  March  27th,  1787. 

"Dear  Brother, 
"  I  have  so  far  accomplished  a  business  of  great  moment, 
as  to  bring  the  Wyoming  people  to  consent  to  receive  the 
laws  of  Pennsylvania,  provided  their  old  possessions  could  be 
confirmed  to  them,  and  this  day  the  General  Assembly  have 
agreed  to  a  law  for  quieting  them,  on  the  principles  I  held 
out  to  the  people  ;  so  peace  and  good  government  will  be  in- 
troduced into  a  settlement  with  which  Pennsylvania  has  been 


272  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

contending  these  seventeen  or  eighteen  years.  The  result  of 
the  measure  will  oblige  me  to  go  to  Wyoming  (now  called 
the  County  of  Luzerne)  in  a  few  days,  with  the  law  con- 
firming their  titles,  acquired  prior  to  the  decree  of  the  federal 
court  at  Trenton,  in  December,  1782,  by  which  the  claim  of 
Connecticut  to  the  lands  in  question  (and  other  lands  within 
the  charter  bounds  of  Pennsylvania)  was  rejected.  I  thus  con- 
sider myself  as  fixed  for  the  remainder  of  my  life  in  this  State, 
and  here  I  should  wish  to  concentre  my  interest. 

"  I  would  sell  not  only  my  lot  in  Brown's  (or  Fitch's)  farm, 
but  the  residue  of  my  lands,  provided  it  should  be  agreeable 
to  you  to  take  them,  and  this  the  happy  recovery  of  your 
health  I  hope  will  enable  you  to  do.  I  am  the  more  induced 
to  make  this  proposal  now,  because  I  have  bargained  for  sev- 
eral parcels  of  land  at  Wyoming,  containing  in  the  whole 
about  seven  hundred  acres,  for  which  I  shall  have  to  pay 
about  five  hundred  dollars,  in  the  course  of  five  months, 
and  nearly  five  hundred  more  in  a  year.  This  will  make 
it  convenient  to  me  to  receive  part  of  the  money,  for  my 
lands  in  Salem,  as  early  as  may  be  ;  for  some  of  my  first  pay- 
ments will  be  due  by  the  last  of  June  next.  For  this  reason 
I  should  wish  the  lot  in  Fitch's  farm  were  sold  to  him  im- 
mediately, and  the  money  sent  to  me  (or,  in  my  absence,  to 
my  partner,  Mr.  Samuel  Hodgdon),  at  Philadelphia.  I  owe 
sister  GooU,  by  a  note  for  the  house  furniture  I  purchased  of 
her.  If  it  should  be  agreeable  to  you  to  take  my  lands, 
then  I  should  desire  vou  to  assume  the  debt  to  sister  Gooll, 
at  the  amount  of  the  principal  and  interest  at  the  time  you 
assume  it.  I  request  your  answer  on  this  subject  as  early  as 
may  be. 

"  Some  of  my  law  books  will  be  useful  to  me.  Such  as  you 
do  not  want  yourself  I  should  be  glad  to  have  shipped  to  me 
bv  the  first  vessel  from  Salem.  Such  as  I  shall  not  wish  to 
retain  I  can  readily  sell  here.  Blackstone  and  Burn,  in  partic- 
ular, will  be  useful  to  you  ;  and  I  shall  not  want  them,  as  I 
have  a  late  edition  of  Blackstone,  and  intend  to  get  the  latest 
of  Burn.  Coke's  '  Institutes,'  three  volumes,  and  Bacon's 
*  Abridgment,'  five  volumes,  I  should  wish  to  receive,  if  you 
have  not  sold  them. 


LIFE  OF  TDIOTHr  PICKERING.  273 

"  I  am  a  little  at  a  loss  what  to  say  about  my  son  John.  I 
wish  to  have  him  with  me,  and  his  mother  is  very  desirous  of 
his  coming  home.  However,  I  will  let  the  matter  rest  until 
I  return  from  Wyoming,  which  will  be  the  beginning  of 
May. 

"  Present  my  love  to  all  under  your  roof,  and  believe  me, 
dear  brother,  most  affectionately  yours, 

"  TmoTHY  Pickering. 

"John  Pickering." 

Middletown,  on  the  wagon  road  from  Philadelphia, 
was,  as  has  been  stated,  not  far  below  Harrisburg,  on 
the  eastern  bank  of  the  Susquehanna.  The  person  to 
whom  the  following  letters  were  addressed  resided 
there. 

"Philadelphia,  March  9:li,  1787. 
"  I^Ir.  Abner  Wickersham. 

"  Sir, 

"  Enclosed  is  the  receipt  of  James  Hay,  for  nine  barrels  of 
salt  and  one  barrel  of  barley,  put  into  his  wagon,  and  which 
he  is  to  deliver  to  you.  The  whole  are  to  go  to  Wyoming. 
As  I  am  a  stranger  to  you,  I  have  requested  your  brother 
Amos  to  write  to  you,  and  his  letter  is  enclosed.  I  have  now 
to  beg  you  will  receive  the  above  articles  of  the  wagoner, 
and  pay  him  the  balance  due  for  the  transportation,  as  I  did 
not  choose  to  pay  him  the  whole  until  the  goods  should  be 
delivered.  The  balance  due  him  is  five  pounds  ten  shillings, 
which  I  request  you  to  pay  him  in  cash,  and  I  will  repay 
the  same  sum  to  your  order  on  demand,  with  your  usual 
charges. 

"  If  a  good  conveyance  presents  to  Wyoming,  you  ^^-ill 
oblige  me  greatly  by  forwarding  the  whole  or  a  part  of  the 
barrels  to  that  place  ;  but  if  only  a  part  should  be  sent,  then 
I  wish  the  barrel  of  barley  to  go  first.  Next  week  I  shall 
set  out  for  Wyoming,  by  the  way  of  the  Wind-gap  ;  and  if, 
on  my  arrival,  none  of  the  barrels  should  have  arrived,  I  shall 
send  down  to  you  for  them,  as  early  as  I  possibly  can.    Should 

Vol.  II.  18 


274  LIFE   OF  TIMOTIir  PICKERING. 

you  forward  the  goods,  please  to  address  them  to  me,  or,  in 

my  absence,  to  Mr.  John  Hollenback  at  Wilkesbarre.     In  the 

course  of  the  spring  and  summer  I  shall  have  several  loads 

to  send  to  Wyoming,  and  wish  to  know  whether  it  will  be 

agreeable  to  you  to  take  charge  of  them.     Should  I  be  absent 

when  your  order  arrives  at  Philadelphia,  be  pleased  to  direct 

an  application  to  Samuel  Hodgdon,  Esq.,  at  my  house,  who 

will  pay  it. 

"  I  am,  Sir,  &c., 

"T.  Pickering." 

"Philadelphia,  April  2d,  1787. 
"  Mk.  Abner  Wickeesham. 

"  Sir, 

"  I  wrote  to  you  on  the  29th  ult.,  and  enclosed  a  letter  of 
credit  from  your  brother  in  town,  that  you  might  pay  such 
sums,  to  the  wagoners  whom  I  should  employ  to  transport 
some  goods  to  Middletown,  as  I  should  desire.  In  that  letter 
I  requested  to  be  informed  whether  it  would  be  agreeable  to 
you  to  take  charge  of  some  other  goods,  which  I  might  for- 
ward in  the  course  of  the  spring  and  summer ;  but  convey- 
ances presenting,  I  have  embraced  them  without  waiting  for 
your  answer.  This  I  hope  you  will  excuse,  as  I  am  solici- 
tous to  have  the  salt  forwarded  without  delay.  I  have  therefore 
to  request  you  to  pay  to  Peter  Barsg  the  sum  of  «£3  14s.  8c?. 
in  specie,  and  to  Michael  Spidel  X3  13s.  lit?.,  in  specie  ;  and 
those  sums  shall  be  paid  your  order  at  sight.  If  I  am  absent, 
my  partner,  Samuel  Hodgdon,  Esq.,  will  pay  your  drafts.  I 
have  further  to  request  that  if  Mr.  Hodgdon  should  forward 
some  more  salt,  or  other  articles,  on  my  account,  that  you 
would  have  the  goodness  to  receive  them,  and  pay  the  sums 
he  requests  for  their  transportation,  which  will  in  like  manner 
be  repaid  to  your  order. 

"  Indorsed  is  an  invoice  of  the  two  loads  now  forwarded 
and  the  receipt  of  the  wagoners  therefor,  on  the  safe  deliv- 
ery of  which  you  will  be  pleased  to  pay  them  the  foremen- 
tioned  sums.  Among  the  loading  is  a  keg  (iron-hooped), 
marked  T.  P.,  No.  24,  containing  clover  seed,  which  I  shall 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  275 

be  anxious  to  get  up  to  Wyoming  as  soon  as  possible,  though 

I  should  not  wish  you  to  forward  it  unless  you  meet  a  very 

safe  conveyance. 

"  I  am,  &c., 

"  T.  Pickering. 

"P.  S.  With  my  own  goods  I  have  sent  one  case  of  gin, 
one  barrel  of  salt,  and  a  small  keg  of  sugar,  for  Colonel 
Nathan  Denison.  They  are  all  marked  N.  D.,  which  he 
requests  you  to  forward  by  the  first  good  boat  to  Wyoming, 
addressed  to  Captain  John  Paul  Schott." 

"PuiLADELPHiA,  April  5th,  1787. 
"  General  Muhlexburgh. 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  The  Assembly  having  granted  £150  for  the  purpose  of 
opening  a  road  from  the  mouth  of  Nescopeck  Creek  to  the 
Lehigh  (a  distance  of  about  three  and  twenty  miles),  two 
persons  will  undertake  to  perform  the  work,  if  that  sum  can 
be  forthwith  appropriated  to  that  use.  They  proposed  getting 
an  additional  sum  by  subscription,  to  be  called  for  if  the 
public  grant  proved  inadequate.  But  this  seemed  a  beginning 
at  the  wrong  end.  And,  after  a  full  consideration  of  the 
matter,  I  proposed  the  following  mode  of  procedure  :  — 

*''  That  application  should  be  made  to  Council  to  appoint 
Evan  Owen  Commissioner  to  explore,  survey,  and  mark  the 
best  route  for  the  road,  and  that  Jacob  Wei^s  should  contract 
to  open  it,  so  as  to  render  it  fit  for  the  passing  of  wagons 
carrying  a  ton  weight. 

"  This  proposal  I  made  on  this  principle  :  that  persons 
deeply  interested  in  having  the  shortest  and  best  road  cut, 
would  be  the  fittest  to  be  employed  to  execute  the  work. 

"  Mr.  Owen  is  an  intelligent  man,  and  I  find,  on  inquiry, 
deserving  public  trust.  He  owns  a  tract  of  land  opposite  the 
mouth  of  Nescopeck,  which  he  has  laid  out  into  lots  for  a 
town,  and  has  no  intermediate  interest.  He  therefore  will 
seek  the  shortest  and  best  route,  and  is  so  solicitous  to  have 
the  work  done  that  he  has  consented  to  undertake  the  trust ; 
and,  as  the  public  grant  will  probably  be  insuflScient  for  open- 


276  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

ill"-  a  good  road,  he  will  perform  the  duty  of  commisjiioner 
and  surveyor  gratis  ;  the  public  only,  out  of  the  £150  granted. 
furnishing  provisions  and  paying  the  hands  necessary  to  be 
employed  as  chain-carriers  and  markers ;  this  service  of  his 
to  come  in  the  place  of  the  sum  he  would  otherwise  subscribe 
to  the  work. 

*'  Mr.  Weiss  has  an  interest  near  the  hither  end  of  the  pro- 
jDosed  road,  and  is  equally  anxious  to  have  it  opened.  He 
will  contract  to  do  it  for  the  remainder  of  the  <£150,  trusting 
to  obtain  by  subscription  what  shall  be  requisite  to  complete 
the  road,  if  that  remainder  should  be  insufficient. 

"  Mr.  Owen  will  explore  and  survey  the  road,  and  return 
a  plan  of  it  to  Council,  by  the  last  of  this  month  ;  and,  if  the 
Council  approve  of  it,  Mr.  Weiss  will  open  it  without  delay, 
and  he  thinks  he  can  complete  it  by  midsummer,  provided 
he  can  begin  to  work  early  in  May,  and  is  furnished  with  a 
part  of  the  money  to  lay  in  provisions,  &c. 

''  I  confess  that  I  cannot  conceive  of  a  more  eligible  mode 
of  executing  this  business,  and  I  hope  it  may  be  agreeable  to 
the  Council.  It  is  an  object  of  great  importance.  At  present 
the  only  way  in  w^hich  any  necessary  goods  can  be  transported 
to  the  county  of  Luzerne,  is  by  land  from  Philadelphia  to 
Middle  town,  ninety-eight  miles,  or  to  Harrisburg,  upwards 
of  a  hundred  miles,  and  then  by  boats  up  the  Susquehanna, 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  to  Wyoming.  This 
circuitous  route  is  so  expensive  as  to  forbid  the  attempt  to 
bring  any  produce  from  Wyoming  to  this  city.  The  want 
of  a  wagon  road  to  Wyoming  will  impede  the  settlement 
of  the  county  of  Luzerne,  and  of  the  northern  part  of  the 
county  of  !N^orthuml)erland ;  for  families  cannot  go  thither 
unless  they  can  travel  on  foot  or  on  horseback,  or  will  venture 
to  undertake  the  tedious  passage,  before  mentioned,  from 
Middletown  or  Harrisburg  by  water.  The  passage  by  water 
from  the  mouth  of  Nescopeck  to  Wyoming,  being  only  about 
thirty  miles,  would  easily  be  accomplished. 

"  I  trust  this  matter  will  appear  to  you  deserving  of  the 
immediate  consideration  of  Council,  and  that  the  necessity  of 
the  measure  and  the  ease  and  certainty  with  which,  in  the 
way  above  proposed,  it  may  be  executed,  will  be  motives 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  277 

sufficient  to  induce  Council  to  adopt  it,  if  it  be  possible  to 
furnish  the  money. 

''  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

''  Timothy  Pickering." 

These  letters  afford  a  specimen  of  Colonel  Picker- 
ing's style,  as  a  business  man,  in  conducting  transac- 
tions and  dealing  with  other  men.  He  was  careful, 
considerate,  and  candid,  showing  his  hand  openly,  giv- 
ing attention  to  the  minutest  details,  and  communicating 
his  views  distinctly  and  fully.  They  also  shed  light 
upon  the  general  state  of  things  at  that  time,  particu- 
larly upon  the  experien(5es  of  life  in  a  new  frontier 
settlement. 

It  is  quite  evident  that  this  interval  of  time,  while  he 
was  in  Philadelphia,  including  the  greater  part  of  March 
and  the  first  week  of  April,  1787,  was  crowded  with 
business  and  cares  that  would  have  been  exhausting  to 
most  persons.  But  his  active  and  powerful  nature  seems 
to  have  been  insensible  to  fatigue,  either  bodily  or  men- 
tal. Watchful  attendance  upon  the  proceedings  of  the 
Council  and  Assembly  of  the  State,  in  looking  out  for 
the  interests  of  his  county,  and  urging  such  measures  as 
he  judged  essential  to  give  it  peace  and  promote  its  wel- 
fare ;  bargaining  for  lands,  as  the  scene  of  future  agri- 
cultural labors,  and  a  new  homestead  ;  collecting  the 
innumerable  articles  necessary  in  building  and  furnish- 
ing a  house  ;  preparations  for  the  removal  of  his  family 
into  it ;  providing  whatever  mechanics  would  need,  and 
implements  for  house  accommodation  or  farm  work, 
loading  several  large  wagons  ;  arrangements  for  break- 
ing up  his  family  in  Philadelphia,  selecting  what  could 
be  transported  by  a  long,  rough  route  over  mountains 
and  rivers,  and  through  woods,  and  would  be  desirable 


278  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

and  suitiiblc  in  its  new  abode,  —  forwarding  what  of  the 
residue  was  of  special  domestic  and  family  interest  to  his 
relatives  in  Massachusetts,  and  setting  apart  what  it  was 
best  to  dispose  of  in  Philadelphia;  the  final  winding  up 
of  business  connected  with  his  commercial  enterprises 
and  operations ;  conducting  a  correspondence  with  his 
brother  in  Salem,  to  raise  the  means  to  meet  the  expenses 
of  the  crisis  by  selling  his  patrimonial  lands  in  that 
place  ;  all  the  while,  as  for  years  afterwards,  answering 
letters  addressed  to  him  by  the  War  Department  and  by 
individuals,  seeking  such  information  and  advice  as  his 
recollection,  papers,  and  experience  as  Quartermaster- 
General  of  the  Revolutionary  army  would  enable  him  to 
give,  —  an  inspection  of  his  manuscripts  shows,  indeed, 
an  amount  and  variety  of  claims  upon  his  time  and 
thoughts  that  cannot  be  measured. 

He  returned  to  Wyoming  shortly  after  the  date  of  his 
letter  to  General  Muhlenberg,  but  was  not  able  to  take 
his  family  with  him,  as  the  preparations  to  receive  them 
were  not  sufficiently  advanced.  He  instantly  resumed 
his  public  duties,  as  appears  by  the  following  letter  to 
his  wife  :  — 

"  WiLKESBARRE,  April  28th,  1787. 

"  I  am  happy  that  I  can  inform  you  that  we  have  held  an 
election  here  in  perfect  tranquillity,  and  that  I  have  reason 
to  think  all  danger  at  an  end.  Franklin  has  got  to  the  end 
of  bis  tether ;  and  I  believe  it  will  not  be  in  his  power  to  do 
more  mischief. 

"  I  expect  to  leave  this  for  home  this  day  week  (say  May 
5th),  when  I  hope  to  find  you  and  Betsey  and  the  boys  in 
perfect  health. 

"  I  am  busy  in  making  a  garden,  and  in  farming ;  but  we 
have  such  cold  and  dry  weather  that  nothing  grows,  —  hardly 
a  night  without  frost. 


LIFE   OF  TBIOTHY  PICKERING.  279 

"  Mr.  Hollenback  will  deliver  ^is ;  and   I  wish   him   to 

breakfast  or  dine  with  you  ;  for  he  has  been  very  obliging  to 

me ;  and  I  expect  we  shall  live  in  his  house,  which  is  a  very 

good  one.     His  brother  does  not  quit  the  log-hut  I  told  you 

of.     Mr.  Hollenback  can  give  you  an  account  of  the  election. 

"  I  am,  my  dear,  wholly  yours, 

''  T.  Pickering." 

He  made  a  hurried  visit  to  Philadelphia,  probably 
starting  at  the  time  stated  in  this  letter.  One  pur- 
pose in  making  it  was  to  provide  supplies  necessary  to 
the  commencement  of  housekeeping  at  Wyoming,  and 
articles  requisite  in  building.  The  folio  wing,  was  written 
on  the  eve  of  his  return.  Mr.  Fry  was  a  business  man 
at  Middletown. 

"  Philadelphia,  May  23d,  1787. 
"  Mr.  George  Fry. 

''  Sir, 

"  The  bearer,  Michael  Tyce,  will  deli\^er  you  a  load  of 

goods  belonging  to  me,  of  which  I  beg  3'our  care  to  receive 

and  store  them  until  Mr.  Matthew  Hollenback  or  I  shall  send 

for  them.     The  load  consists  of  the  following  articles,  viz. : — 

1  hhd.  molasses,  104  gallons.  1  pine  chest  of  sundries. 

1  barrel  of  Muscovado  sugar.  1  box  of  candles. 

1  barrel  of  vinegar.  1  box  of  soap. 

2  kegs  of  nails.  1  ditto  chocolate. 
1  tierce  of  bacon. 

"  I  have  paid  the  driver,  Mr.  Tyce,  for  the  transportation 
hence  to  Middletown. 

"  P.  S.  I  believe  all  the  casks  and  boxes  are  marked  '  T. 
Pickering.'  " 

He  must  have  made  the  journey  this  time  in  about 
five  days,  as  appears  from  the  date  of  the  following  let- 
ter to  his  wife  :  — 

"  Wilkesbarre,  May  29th,  1787. 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  we,  this  day, 
opened   the  Courts  of  Common  Pleas  and  Sessions  of  the 


280  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

Peace  for  the  County  of  Luzerne,  when  every  thing  was  con- 
ducted in  perfect  quiet  and  good  order.  Mr.  ElHcott,  of  Bal- 
timore (the  Commissioner  for  running  the  boundary  hne 
between  Pennsylvania  and  New  York),  happening  to  be  here, 
on  his  way  up  the  river,  delayed  his  journey  a  few  hours,  that 
he  might  be  present  at  the  opening  of  the  first  courts,  and,  I 
am  told,  expressed  much  satisfaction  at  the  event.  Four 
gentlemen  were  admitted  by  the  court  to  practise  as  attorneys 
in  this  county.  These  were  Mr.  Bowman,  and  Mr.  William 
Nichols,  whom  you  know,  and  two  young  gentlemen  from 
Connecticut,  who  have  been  here  a  few  months. 

"  One  of  the  men,  with  whom  I  talked  on  my  way  down  to 
Philadelphia,  had  undertaken  the  repairs  of  the  road  through 
the  swamp,  and  made  it  passable  for  a  wagon  lightly  loaded 
to  within  seven  miles  of  Wilkesbarre  ;  and  the  people  here  have 
made  some  slight  repairs  through  those  seven  miles.  The  re- 
pairs, however,  are  not  so  effectual  as  I  could  wish,  and  I 
shall  endeavor  to  do  something  more  to  the  road  before  you 
come  up. 

"  The  frosts  here  have  been  severe.  We  observed  in  the 
woods  that  the  leaves  of  some  trees  just  opened  had  been 
killed ;  and  last  night  and  the  night  before  all  the  beans  that 
had  come  up  were  destroyed,  mine  among  the  rest ;  and,  un- 
fortunately, I  forgot  to  put  the  bag  of  seeds  among  the  articles 
to  be  sent  up  in  my  wagon.  Some  seeds  I  have,  and  shall 
endeavor  to  replant  what  the  frosts  have  destroyed. 

"  I  forgot  to  mention  to  Mr.  Rea  that  when  here  in  April 
and  the  beginning  of  this  month,  I  gave  a  Mr.  Erwin  an  order 
on  Major  Hodgdon  for  twenty  pounds.  If  he  should  present 
it  before  my  return,  let  Mr.  Rea  2:)ay  it  with  any  mone3'S  he 
may  have ;  as  I  assured  Mr.  Erwin  he  should  not  be  disap- 
pointed.    It  is  for  bringing  the  salt  up  the  river. 

''  I  «hall  return  as  soon  as  possible,  perhaps  sooner  than  I 
expected  when  I  left  home.  I  was  diverted  to-day  by  the 
congratulations  of  several  people,  who  said  they  were  glad  to 
see  me  at  home  again,  meaning  at  Wyoming. 

*'  I  remain,  my  dear,  ever  yours, 

"  T.  Pickering." 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  281 

After  having  completed  the  organization  of  the 
county,  caused  the  necessary  elections  to  be  held,  put 
the  courts  in  operation,  and  given  the  requisite  direc- 
tions to  those  charged  with  the  construction  of  his  build- 
ings and  the  laborers  employed  upon  his  grounds,  he 
went  back  again  to  Philadelphia,  in  the  earlier  part  of 
June,  to  procure  further  supplies,  and  bring  his  family 
to  Wvominsr.  A  few  letters  written  while  he  was  there 
on  this  occasion,  with  some  brief  accompanying  remarks, 
will  be  better  than  a  more  formal  narrative. 

"  Philadelphia,  June  20,  1787. 
"Mr.  George  Fry. 


u 


Sir, 
"  By  the  two  wagons  of  Adam  Spake  and  Jacob  Rheim, 

I  send  to  your  care,  the  articles  under-mentioned,  viz. :  — 

Two  hhds.  rum  marked  M.  H.  for  Matthias  Hollenback,  Esq. 
One  hhd.  rum  marked  T.  P. 
One  hhd.  bacon  marked  ditto. 
One  barrel  of  Muscovado  sugar  marked  ditto. 
One  keg  of  nails. 
One  small  keg  of  nails. 

Six  bundles  containing  six  dozen  of  New  England  grass  scythes. 
Five  bundles  of  New  England  red  sole  leather,  containing  20  sides. 
Eight  bundles  of  nail  rods. 

All  which   (the  two  first-mentioned  hogsheads  of   rum  excepted)  belong 
to  me. 

"  I  expect  Mr.  Hollenback's  boat  will  be  down  from  Wyom- 
ing about  the  time  these  wagons  will  arrive  at  Middle  town. 
He  will  probably  send  orders  about  the  loading  of  her.  If  he 
should  not,  I  must  request  you  to  put  on  board  her  all  the 
articles  above  enumerated,  and  my  hogshead  of  molasses 
which  you.  now  have  in  store,  and  as  many  of  my  barrels  of 
salt  (now  I  suppose  at  the  store  of  the  late  Abner  Wickers- 
ham),  as  will  make  up  a  proper  loading  for  the  boat.  The 
waters  will  probably  be  pretty  low,  and  therefore  it  may 
be  best  to  put  on  board  her  a  moderate  load.  I  enclose  an 
order  on  the  administrator  or  agent  for  Mr.  Wickersham's 
estate,  for  the  salt. 

"  I  have  left  with  Weidman  and  Xeilson  twelve  bundles  of 


282  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

nail  rods,  ^vhicli  they  will  forward  to  you  by  the  first  convey- 
ance, and  if  they  arrive  before  Mr.  HoUenback's  boat  is  set 
,off  for  Wyoming,  be  pleased  to  put  them  on  board  her. 

"I  am,  &c., 

"  T.   Pickering. 

£      s.    d. 
Adam  Spake,  17  cwt.,  at  5s .    4      5    0 

Jacob  Rheim,  24  cwt.,  at  5s 6      0    0 

Scythes 0      86 

Abraliara  Rheim,  3  cwt.  5s 0    15    0 

£11    8    6" 

This,  with  letters  given  before,  will  perhaps  serve  to 
afford  some  estimate  of  the  difficulties  in  transportation, 
at  that  time,  to  Wyoming.  It  was  slow  and  expensive. 
The  pay  to  the  wagoners  for  conveying  two  loads  of 
his  furniture,  a  few  weeks  after  Colonel  Pickering  re- 
moved his  family,  was  £15.  This  was  only  to  Middle- 
town  ;  the  freight  charges  by  boat,  up  the  rivers  against 
the  stream,  were  to  be  added  to  the  account.  The 
wagons,  on  the  roads  of  Pennsylvania  penetrating  the 
interior,  were  large  and  clumsy  vehicles,  capable  of  car- 
rying very  heavy  loads,  and  constructed  with  a  view  to 
strength  alone.  They  were  usually  drawn  by  five  horses. 
The  wheels  were  of  a  broad  rim,  and  by  their  great 
diameter  lifted  the  body  of  the  wagon  high  above  the 
ground.  On  this  same  road,  from  Philadelphia  to  Mid- 
dletown  and  Harrisburg,  the  stage-coaches,  as  late  as 
1826,  were  of  a  similar  construction,  — very  capacious, 
strong,  and  heavy,  with  broad-rimmed  large  wheels,  rais- 
ing the  body  of  the  coach  to  such  a  height  that  passen- 
gers entered  the  doors  at  the  sides,  on  ladders  prepared 
and  carried  for  the  purpose. 

The  constant  agitations,  and  alternating  convulsions 
to  which  the  Wyoming  settlements  had,  from  the  first. 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  283 

been  subjected,  prevented  the  establishment  of  perma- 
nent institutions  of  worship  and  education.  Colonel 
Pickering  had  received  a  strict  religious  training,  and 
through  life  retained  a  profound  reverence  for  Christi- 
anity and  its  ordinances.  He  was,  in  early  life,  a  pro- 
fessor and  communicant  successively  in  the  Tabernacle, 
South  and  First  Churches  in  Salem.  During  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  he  had  no  fixed  home  for  his  family.  While 
living  in  Philadelphia,  as  a  merchant,  he  was,  undoubt- 
edly, always  an  attendant  on  worship ;  but  his  views  on 
some  doctrinal  points  prevented  his  forming  a  particular 
connection  with  any  church  there,  at  that  time ;  and 
his  children  had  remained  unbaptized.  His  mind  was 
much  exercised  on  the  subject  now  that  he  w^as  about  to 
remove  his  family  perma^ently  where  there  was  not 
then,  and  might  not  for  some  time  be,  any  provision  for 
the  Christian  ministry  and  ordinances. 

The  following  letter  is  found  in  a  first  draught,  among 
his  papers  :  — 

"  Sunday,  July  1,  1787. 

"Sm, 

*'  Having  reflected  on  our  conversation  when  you  were  last 
at  my  house,  I  have  concluded  to  state  the  following  propo- 
sitions, as  expressive  of  my  belief :  — 

"  1.  That  there  is  '  one  God,'  and  Governor  of  the  world, 
and  '  one  Mediator  between  God  and  man,  the  man  Christ 
Jesus,  who  gave  himself  a  ransom  for  all.' 

"  2.  That  the  Holy  Scriptures,  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ment, were  '  given  by  inspiration  of  God,  and  are  profitable 
for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruction  in 
righteousness.' 

"  3.  That  every  professor  of  religion  ought  to  do  those 
things  which  he  believes  to  be  enjoined  by  the  Author  of  it. 

"  Hence,  baptism  appearing  to  me  to  be  instituted  by  Jesus 
Christ,  the  Author  of  the  Christian  religion,  I  desire  my  chil- 


284  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

• 

dren  may  be  baptized,  in  the  form  of  the  institution  '  in  the 
name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,' 
as  an  evidence  of  my  faith,  and  desire  that  they  may  bear  the 
name  of  Christ,  whose  instructions  I  wish  them  to  obey. 

*'  For  the  reason  above  mentioned,  I  consider  it  to  be  the 
duty  of  every  Christian  to  celebrate  the  Lord's  supper,  to 
*  show  forth  his  death  till  he  come  ; '  but  that  all  professors 
of  Christianity,  seriously  desirous  of  obeying  this  comm.and- 
ment,  should  be  invited  to  partake  of  it,  without  the  deterring 
formalities  observed  in  the  Presbyterian  chui-ches,  and  with 
too  much  rigror  in  most  others.  While  these  formalities  are 
retained,  I  will  venture  to  say  that  the  numl)er  of  communi- 
cants will  be  inconsiderable.  I  believe  no  attentive  observer 
can  doubt  that,  in  every  congregation,  there  are  many  good 
Christians  who  abstain  from  that  ordinance  ;  but  who  would 
attend  it,  if  those  formalities  were  done  away.  But  unhap- 
pily for  the  world,  this  simple  institution  has  long  been 
wrapped  up  in  my^tery^  to  the  great  detriment  of  the  Chris- 
tian religion  and  its  professors.  I  hope  the  liberality  of  the 
present  age  may  produce  an  alteration  ;  and  that  every  Chris- 
tian, feeling  at  the  time  a  disposition  to  obey  this  command- 
ment of  our  Lord,  may  be  invited  freely  to  sit  at  the  table,  or 
rather  in  his  own  seat,  to  partake  of  the  supper.  Passing 
by  other  exceptionable  things,  I  will  just  observe  that  the 
practice  of  getting  a  ticket  of  admission  is  to  me  a  very  dis- 
gusting one.  Of  what  are  the  ministers  of  religion  afraid  ? 
Is  it  to  be  presumed  that  any  other  than  professing  Christians 
will  partake  of  the  supper  ?  What  can  induce  a  pagan,  or  a 
Jew,  or  any  other  unbeliever  in  Christianity,  or  one  who  is 
regardless  of  the  commands  of  Christ,  to  observe  this  ordi- 
nance of  the  supper  ?  They  will  not  do  it.  It  is  usual  to 
preach  a  sermon,  relative  to  the  ordinance,  when  administered. 
In  that  the  people  may  be  seriously  addressed,  and  informed 
of  the  absurdity,  impropriety,  and  uselessness  of  attending 
this  institution,  unless  they  believe  in  Christ,  and  obey  his 
moral  commands ;  that,  without  the  latter,  they  will  be  sub- 
jects of  reproof,  like  his  to  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  of  ob- 
serving this  merely  positive  institution,  while  they  omit  the 
weightier  matters  of  the  law,  'judgment,  mercy,  and  faith,' 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERIXG.  285 

which  will  lead  them  to  'walk  humbly  before  God.'  With 
such  serious  cautions,  the  invitation  should  doubtless  be  uni- 
versal.    '  Whosoever  will,  let  him  come.'  " 

"  These  remarks  on  the  Lord's  supper  I  have,  Sir,  thrown 
out  for  your  consideration.  If  some  such  alteration  as  I  have 
suggested  were  to  be  introduced,  I  believe  the  cause  of 
Christianity  would  thereby  be  promoted.  If  a  church  should 
be  formed  where  I  am  going,  I  shall  feel  it  my  duty  to  at- 
tempt it. 

"  I  am,  dear  Sir,  affectionately  and  respectfully  yours, 

''  Timothy  Pickekixg. 

"Rev.  De.  Sproat." 

A  marginal  note  to  the  three  articles  of  faith,  at  the 
beginning  of  this  letter,  is  as  follows :  "  If  these  defini- 
tions are  satisfactory,  I  would  request  to  have  my  chil- 
dren baptized,  this  afternoon  at  my  own  house,  at  five 
or  six  o'clock,  or  at  any  other  hour  more  convenient  to 
you." 

Dr.  Sproat  administered  the  ordinance  at  the  time 
and  place  designated. 

The  following  letter  fixes  the  date  of  Colonel  Pick- 
ering's departure  from  Philadelphia  to  his  new  home  at 
Wyoming.  His  eldest  son,  John,  then  in  his  eleventh 
year,  was  with  his  uncle  at  Salem.  The  party  consisted 
of  the  Colonel,  his  wife,  with  their  four  other  boys, 
Timothy,  Henry,  Charles,  and  William  ;  his  wife's  sister, 
Miss  Elizabeth  White,  generally  spoken  of  as  Betsey  in 
these  letters ;  and  some  persons  in  domestic  service,  or 
hired  to  work  on  the  farm. 

"  Philadelphia,  July  10th,  1787. 

"  Dear  Brother, 
"  I  received  your  letter  of  April  28th,  about  the  middle  of 
June,  on  my  retui-n  from  Wyoming,  and  was  sincerely  re- 
joiced to  find  your  health  so  established,  and  hope  you  will 
at  no  time  be  unmindful  of  the  care  necessary  to  preserve  it. 


286  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

"I  am  content  to  sell  you  my  share  in  the  pastures  given 
us  by  our  father,  and  m}^  third  of  the  lower  pasture,  for  the 
thousand  dollars  you  propose.  If  Mr.  P'itch  declines  pur- 
chasing Osgood's  lot,  I  wish  you  to  take  it  at  the  price  you 
mention,  of  tln-ee  hundred  dollars.  I  should  be  sorry  to  have 
my  Middlefield  lot  separated  from  the  farm :  it  is  valuable  in 
itself,  and  so  convenient  to  you  for  hay.  I  would  not  choose, 
therefore,  that  you  should  sell  it  to  a  stranger ;  let  it  rest, 
therefore,  until  you  find  it  convenient  to  purchase  it ;  if  any 
accident  should  render  it  necessary  to  have  it  otherwise  sold, 
I  will  advise  you  of  it. 

"  I  shall  draw  for  the  six  hundred  dollars  you  have  by  you, 
before  I  leave  tow^n,  which  will  be  this  day ;  in  the  afternoon 
my  whole  family  sets  out  for  Wyoming,  and  I  must  conclude 
this  letter  to  prepare  for  our  march.  We  are  all  in  health 
and  spirits.  My  wife  and  I  are  sensibly  affected  by  your 
cordial  professions  of  affection ;  we  shall  bear  you  in  the 
kindest  remembrance.  We  also  desire  our  very  affectionate 
love  may  be  presented  to  all  the  family  at  Salem  and  else- 
where. 

"  My  son,  John,  I  must  leave  under  your  care  until  I  get 
settled  at  Wyoming,  and  a  school  established.  I  hope  he  will 
not  prove  a  burden  to  you. 

''  Most  affectionately  I  bid  you  adieu, 

"  T.  Pickering. 

"John  Pickering,  Esq." 

"  P.  S.  The  list  you  sent  of  the  law  books  was  not  exact. 
Though  I  have  put  up  the  memorandum,  by  which  I  could 
tell  what  arrived.  I  recollect,  however,  Lillie's  '  Entries  '  came 
to  hand,  but  is  not  in  your  list.  You  mention  Coke's  '  Insti- 
tutes '  as  sent ;  but  the  first  part  only  (or  Coke  upon  Little- 
ton), came  to  hand  ;  the  other  parts,  I  suppose,  are  with  you. 
What  remain  may  be  forwarded  when  a  convenient  oppor- 
tunity presents. 

"P.  M.  Since  the  morning  I  have  concluded  to  desire 
you  to  forward  only  two  hundred  dollars,  and  reserve  the 
rest  for  my  order.  Be  so  kind  as  to  get  Mr.  Williams  to 
send  the  two  hundred  dollars  to  my  partner,  Samuel  Hodg- 
don,  Esq.,  in  Philadelphia.  —  T.  Pickering." 


LIFE  OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  287 

After  a  journey  attended  with  much  hardship  and  en- 
durance the  party  reached  Wyoming.  The  object  of 
his  labors  was  accompUshed,  and  he  was  happy  in  the 
confidence  that  a  home  was  provided  for  his  family  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  life.  But  in  less  than  three  months 
an  entire  reverse  came  over  their  condition.  The  wife, 
with  an  infant  scarcely  three  weeks  old,  was  suddenly 
left  among  strangers  in  a  strange  place,  far  in  the  woods, 
and  surrounded  by  insurgents  breathing  vengeance 
against  her  husband,  while  he  was  in  exile  at  Philadel- 
phia. She  could  not  go  to  him,  and  he  was  prevented 
by  threats  of  \iolence  from  coming  to  her.  In  their 
preceding  separation  he  had  been  in  Wyoming,  and  she 
in  Philadelphia.  Their  positions  were  now  transposed  ; 
and  the  separation,  for  many  months,  Avas  rendered  ab- 
solute and  complete  by  extraordinary  occurrences  to  be 
related  in  the  next  chapter. 


288  LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERII^G. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

Disturbances  in  Wyoming.  —  John  Franklin's  Arrest  and  Im- 
prisonment. —  The  Pennsylvania  Commissioners  driven  out 
of  the  Country.  —  Colonel  Pickering's  Escape  into  the 
Woods. 

1787. 

Colonel  Pickering's  family  were  temporarily  in  a 
hired  tenement,  while  his  house  was  in  process  of  erec- 
tion. He  at  once  busily  employed  himself  in  hastening 
it  on,  bringing  his  land  into  good  condition,  and  at- 
tending to  his  public  duties,  in  the  administration  of 
law,  and  attempts  to  establish  peace  and  order.  The 
difficulties  experienced  in  procuring  the  innumerable 
articles  required  for  his  buildings  and  farm,  which  had 
to  be  brought  from  Philadelphia,  in  the  near  approach 
of  the  season  when  transportation  would  be  impossible, 
—  the  roads  being  impassable  for  teams  in  every  fall 
and  spring,  —  will  be  best  appreciated  by  giving  some 
extracts  from  his  correspondence. 

His  partner  in  business  at  Philadelphia,  Major  Hodg- 
don,  having  conceived  a  plan  of  establishing  a  store  at 
Wilkesbarre,  requested  information  as  to  the  kind  of 
goods  with  which  to  stock  it.  The  following  extracts 
from  Colonel  Pickering's  letters  in  reply,  give  an  in- 
sight into  his  labors  and  cares  at  that  time,  and  shed 
light  upon  the  state  of  things  generally  in  an  outskirt 
settlement. 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  289 

"  "WiLKESBARRE,  September  loth,  1787. 

"  You  repeat  the  subject  of  a  store  at  this  place,  and  desire 
an  estimate  of  the  cost  of  a  proper  building  for  the  purpose. 
As  to  such  a  building,  I  should  not  think  it  expedient  to  erect 
one  at  present,  even  if  there  were  time.  1  shall  doubtless 
get  my  house  into  such  forwardness  that  I  can  safely  lodge 
liquors  and  most  other  goods  in  the  cellar,  which  will  be,  I  ex- 
pect, a  very  dry  one.  All  the  difficulty  I  have  to  apprehend, 
respects  the  means  of  remittance.  I  think  we  could  not  ex- 
pect five  per  cent  in  money.  Flax  seed  I  suppose  may  be  got 
for  five  shillings  per  bushel,  but  this  bears  a  high  price  in 
Philadelphia,  only  in  the  fall,  when  the  transportation  is  im- 
practicable. Indian-corn  will  probably  be  at  two  shillings 
and  sixpence.  Rye  is  at  three  shillings  and  sixpence,  and 
wheat  at  five  shillings.  Oats  at  one  shilling  and  tenpence 
halfpenny.  Good  swingled  flax  at  ninepence.  In  the  spring, 
wheat,  corn,  and  rye  have  always  fetched  good  prices.  Last 
spring,  wheat  was  at  seven  shillings  and  sixpence,  corn  at 
five  shillings,  rye  at  from  five  shillings  and  sixpence  to  six 
shillings  ;  but  the  flood  of  last  fall  occasioned  a  scarcity.  Next 
spring,  however,  if  peace  be  firmly  established  here,  will 
bring  in  many  new  settlers,  who  must  be  supplied  with  bread, 
and  this  will  make  grain  in  demand.  We  may  reckon  the 
•different  sorts  to  rise  from  twenty-five  to  fifty  per  cent,  in 
their  prices,  especially  corn  and  wheat. 

'^  Agreeably  to  your  request,  I  shall  enclose  an  invoice  of 
the  articles,  which  I  think  will  be  in  the  greatest  demand,  in 
my  next,  which  will  go  by  John  Scott,  who  will  set  out  on 
Tuesday  the  18th  instant. 

"  I  have  given  Mr.  Hollenback  an  open  letter  to  you,  in 
which  I  request  the  payment  of  £53  2s.  6d.  due  to  him  on 
securities  I  gave  last  winter  for  the  lands  I  purchased  here. 
He  is  going  to  Philadelphia  for  his  winter  stock  of  goods,  and 
his  end  will  be  answered,  if  the  merchants  with  whom  he 
deals  accept  your  notes  at  such  payments  as  can  be  agreed 
on. 

"  I  remain  with  much  affection  yours,  &c.'* 

Vol.  II.  19 


290  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

"  WiLKESBARRE,  September  17th,  1787. 

*'  I  forgot  again  to  enclose  Esquire  Marcy's  description  of  new 
land,  about  which  I  wrote  you  the  15th,  by  Mr.  Hollenback. 
I  will  try  not  to  forget  to  put  it  into  this  letter. 

"  I  now  enclose  an  invoice  of  such  goods  as  I  think  would 
be  proper  for  a  store  at  this  place.  I  am  so  little  acquainted 
with  the  cost  of  most  of  them,  that  I  can  form  no  estimate  of 
their  amount ;  perhaps  this  will  be  much  higher  than  you  find 
convenient,  or  think  expedient,  to  adventure  ;  if  so,  you  will 
curtail  it.  In  the  invoice  are  sundry  articles,  which  I  should 
wish  to  receive  on  my  own  account,  but  have  not  inserted 
them  in  my  list,  because  you  seemed  determined  to  engage  in 
the  store,  and  in  that  way  I  could  be  supplied. 

"  The  transportation  of  the  whole  must  be  by  the  way  of 
Middletown,  addressed  to  Mr.  George  Fry,  merchant  there. 
To  him  Mr.  Hollenback  sends  his  goods,  and  takes  them 
thence  to  this  place  in  his  own  boat.  Before  he  set  off  I 
asked  him  whether  there  would  be  room  in  his  boat  for  any 
goods  for  me.  He  doubted  it,  but  said  she  might  go  down 
again.  However,  it  will  be  immaterial ;  as  there  are  boats 
plying  from  Middletown  which  are  always  glad  of  loading. 
Hollenback  formerly  offered  to  transport  for  me  from  Middle- 
town,  at  £5  per  ton.  I  suppose  it  cannot  be  got  for  less,  ex-» 
cepting  such  a  heavy  article  as  my  salt,  which  Robert  Erwin 
brought  up  for  fifteen  shillings  per  barrel  (the  usual  price  for 
a  barrel  as  heavy  as  a  barrel  of  liquor),  and  each  weighed 
upwards  of  three  hundred-weight ;  and  I  suppose  the  land 
transportation  from  Philadelphia  to  Middletown  may  cost  as 
much  more.  For  the  last  load  I  sent  that  way  I  gave  five 
shillings  for  a  hundred-weight, —  before  that,  four  shillings  and 
sixpence.  Heretofore  the  boatmen  have  demanded  cash  for 
their  transportation ;  and  possibly  I  could  pay  this  partly  in 
produce  ;  but,  for  whatever  must  be  paid  in  cash,  I  must  de- 
pend on  you.  I  am  so  poor^  I  scarcely  know  how  I  shall  pro- 
cure beef  for  my  family,  for  there  is  no  getting  it  without 
cash.  The  price,  at  present,  threepence  per  pound,  beef, 
hide,  and  tallow.  I  might,  however,  purchase  a  bullock  this 
week,  and  promise  payment  on  the  return  of  John  Scott,  by 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  291 

whom  I  am  under  the  necessity  of  requesting  you  to  send  me 
fifty  dollars. 

"  Hollenback  told  me  that  he  thought  iron  could  be  pur- 
chased at  Middletown  at  <£  25  per  ton ;  and,  therefore,  I 
omitted  that  article  in  the  invoice.  About  half  a  ton,  I  think, 
will  be  enough  for  the  winter.  I  intended  to  write  to  Mr.  Fry 
on  the  subject,  and  request  him  to  forward  that  quantity; 
but  I  recollect  Mr.  Hollenback  said  he  should  go  to  the  fur- 
nace nearest  Mid  diet  own  and  engage  his  ;  and  this  will  be  the 
most  certain  way  of  getting  some  for  our  store ;  and  perhaps 
you  can  agree  with  him  to  procure  some  for  us.  I  have  some 
nail-rods  by  me,  and  yet  have  noted  five  hundred- weight  in 
the  invoice.  ^ly  reason  is,  that  I  think  T  can  get  the  whole 
worked  up  this  winter  into  twenty-penny,  tenpenny,  and  eight- 
penny  nails,  at  a  cheaper  rate  than  at  any  other  time ;  and 
next  spring  I  think  there  will  be  so  much  building,  as  to  make 
a  demand  for  them.  The  tenpenny  sell  now  at  fifteen  pence 
a  pound.  What  I  have  had  made  I  agreed  to  allow  the  smith 
fivepence  a  pound  for,  he  engaging  to  return  me  one  hundred 
pounds  nails  for  one  hundred  and  twelve  pounds  rods ;  but 
he  returned  only  at  the  rate  of  ninety-six  pounds.  I  wish  you 
to  inquire  in  Philadelphia  what  is  the  usual  waste.  A  bundle 
of  spike  rods  (middling  size)  would  be  convenient  for  many 
purposes.  A  glazier's  diamond,  with  some  instructions  how 
to  apply  it,  would  be  extremely  useful  to  me  ;  and  with  that 
AVilliam  George  could  fit  up  many  tin  lanterns  with  small 
panes  cut  out  of  broken  glass. 

"  I  originally  concluded  to  put  6  by  8  glass  into  the  win- 
dows of  my  dwelling-house;  but  since  the  office  windows 
have  been  glazed,  I  find  the  effect  of  them  in  a  building  so 
large  as  the  dwelling-house  would  be  disagreeable,  and  have, 
therefore,  concluded  to  have  7  by  9  glass.  Four  hundred 
panes  would  glaze  the  house  ;  and  if  packed  as  they  ought  to 
be,  not  two  in  a  hundred  need  be  broken.  The  two  half- 
boxes  of  6  by  8,  which  I  bought  of  Bache  and  Shay,  cost  iJS, 
which  I  offered  to  pay  Colonel  Shay ;  but,  as  I  proposed  get- 
ting more  for  my  house,  he  desired  the  payment  might  rest 
till  then.  The  glass  is  very  true,  but  the  panes  (wdiich  were 
made  of  their  broken  panes  of  larger  glass)  not  truly  cut,  one 


292  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

parcel  bein^  considerably  larger  than  the  other,  and  many 
wanting  a  j)iece  at  their  corners,  which  will  require  patching, 
to  complete  the  i:)anes  in  setting.  The  two  hundred  feet  of 
7  by  9,  I  suppose,  will  cost  £9,  unless  fresh  arrivals  should 
have  cheapened  them.  One  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet 
will  glaze  my  house ;  but  a  box  cannot  be  divided ;  and  any 
surplus  will  sell  to  the  inhabitants.  If  Bache  and  Shay's  glass 
were  to  be  well  packed,  in  strong  boxes  made  for  the  purpose, 
I  should  prefer  it,  because  I  could  depend  on  all  the  panes 
being  whole  at  Philadelphia. 

*'  In  choosing  the  goods  of  all  kinds  for  this  place,  you  will 
recorect  the  sort  of  people  who  are  to  buy.  The  articles 
should  be  strong  and  cheap,  and  a  good  proportion  (especially 
what  is  for  the  females)  have  a  smart  appearance. 

"  I  remain  yours,  &c." 

"  Friday,  September  21st,  1787. 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  John  Scott  left  this  last  Tuesday  morning  for  Philadelphia. 
David  Mead,  Esq.,  just  tells  me  that  he  intends  to  set  out  for 
Philadelphia  this  day.  I  therefore  seize  a  few  moments  to 
inform  you  that  Mrs.  P.  is  unusually  well,  and  may  in  a  few 
days  come  below  stairs.  The  infant  is  also  strong  and  healthy. 
The  rest  of  the  family  are  well. 

"  The  remainder  of  mv  house-frame  is  arrived,  and  the  car- 
penters  are  framing  it.  One  of  them  desires  me  to  procure 
him  a  pair  of  strong  carpenter's  compasses,  which  John  Scott 
can  bring  up  in  his  saddle-bags.  We  shall  be  ready  to  raise 
next  week,  but  the  lime-burner  having  disappointed  me 
about  lime  at  Nescopeck,  I  may  postpone  the  raising  until 
I  can  get  lime-mortar  to  lay  the  underpinning  of  the  cellar ; 
except  that,  the  walls  being  finished,  and  I  expect  the  lime 
the  week  after  next.  In  the  mean  time,  the  carpenters  will 
be  preparing  the  stuff  for  covering  and  finishing  the  house. 
So,  upon  the  whole,  I  have  no  doubt  of  moving  into  it  this 
fall,  say  by  the  last  of  November.  If  you  get  an  Irish  car- 
penter and  mason  (or  either  of  them),  they  can  come  up  with 
John  Scott. 

"  I  wish  you  to  send  me  a  tarred  rope,- about  seven-eighths 
of  an  inch  diameter  and  thirty  feet  long,  for  a  well-rope  for 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  293 

a  windlass  for  a  common  draw-bucket ;  another  white  rope 
suitable  and  long  enough  for  a  clothes-line  :  one  tanned  sheep- 
skin, and  two  sheepskins  dressed  by  the  leather-dressers. 

"  Mrs.  P.  informs  me  that  inquiry  has  been  made  for  Hol- 
land for  women's  caps.  She  says  long  lawn  for  the  caps  and 
clear  lawn  for  the  borders  are  most  suitable,  and  tliat  both 
should  be  of  middling  quality,  and  should  have  been  inserted 
in  the  invoice  for  the  store.  Enough  of  each  for  a  dozen,  or 
a  dozen  and  a  half  of  caps  may  suffice.  She  adds  that 
Hanover  lace  is  cheap,  and  would  do  well  here  for  cap- 
borders,  &c. 

"  I  will  thank  you  to  inform  me  of  the  price  of  the  Tortola 
rum  you  sent  me. 

"  If  I  recollect  right,  I  have  seen  Anderson's  essays  on 
agriculture  lately  advertised  by  some  of  the  Lish  booksellers. 
I  wish  to  own  it,  and  to  receive  by  John  Scott  that  volume  of 
the  two  which  treats  at  large  of  lime  and  lime-mortar.  The 
Agricultural  Society  have  the  book  (lent,  perhaps,  to  Mr. 
Peters),  but  this  place  is  too  remote  for  borrowing. 

''  You  was  deceived  in  the  lapis  calaminaris  sent  by  Mr. 
Nichols  :  'tis  good  for  nothing,  being  as  coarse  as  sand ;  so 
that  no  part  of  it  is  sustained  in  the  water  half  a  minute,  and 
consequently  none  of  it  is  fit  to  enter  the  eye.  Pray  send  us 
some  that  is  of  the  right  sort,  as  we  all  need  it.  Dr.  Bass 
formerly  gave  me  what  was  good. 

''  My  wife  observes  that  no  mention  is  made  of  her  large 
brass  kettle  coming  on.  She  proposed  that  it  should  be  put 
into  one  of  the  large  washing-tubs  to  keep  it  from  bruising  on 
the  way.  We  shall  not  know  how  to  do  without  it.  She 
wishes  the  large  hair  trunk,  which  is  behind,  may  be  opened, 
and  the  woollen  articles  (including  the  linings  of  silk  gowns) 
examined  on  account  of  the  moths.  Be  pleased  also  to  inquire 
if  my  best  suit  of  cloth  and  beaver  hat  are  safe  at  Mrs. 
Hastings' ;  they  were  put  into  a  round  bandbox. 

*'  I  remain,  &c." 

John  Scott  and  William  George  were  hired  men,  in 
the  service  of  Colonel  Pickering.     These  letters  present 


294  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

a  picture  of  his  situation  at  the  time  more  life-like  than 
any  general  description  by  another  person  could  be,  and 
for  tliis  reason  have  been  given  in  detail,  although  they 
relate  to  domestic  and  ordinary  concerns,  and  such  as 
may,  at  iirst  thought,  be  regarded  as  too  trivial  to  enter 
into  a  biography.  They  have,  however,  it  is  deemed, 
an  interest  and  value  quite  rare.  They  give  an  idea  of 
what  it  was  to  prepare  for  an  abode  in  a  new  country, 
far  removed  from  sources  of  necessary  supplies.  The 
matters  to  which  he  had  to  devote  his  thoughts  and  his 
time  were  infinite  in  extent  and  variety,  and  such  as  per- 
sons who  have  always  lived  in  old  settlements,  and  in 
easy  reach  of  whatever  is  needful,  comfortable,  and  con- 
venient, can  hardly  realize. 

He  expected,  it  is  seen,  to  enter  the  house  he  was  build- 
ing, and  establish  his  family  in  a  permanent  and  happy 
home,  before  the  snow  should  fall.  To  what  disappoint- 
ment he  was  doomed  will  shortly  appear.  His  friend, 
Major  Hodgdon,  who  had  formed  the  scheme  of  opening 
a  store  in  Wyoming,  was  his  constant  correspondent  and 
agent  at  Philadelphia.  Some  passages  in  his  letters  to 
Colonel  Pickering  may  here  be  added  to  show  the  diffi- 
culties of  transportation  at  that  end  of  the  line. 

Philadelphia,  July  27th,  1787. 

*'  I  am  sorry  to  inform  you  that  nothing  of  yours  from  hence 
is  yet  on  the  way  to  meet  you.  I  have,  however,  a  prospect 
that  they  will  be  coming  on  in  two  or  three  days,  and  you 
may  rest  assured  no  attention  shall  be  wanting  to  getting 
them  off,  as  I  know  you  want  some  of  them  exceedingly." 

Not  being  able  to  procure  transportation  by  the  way 
of  Middletown,  Major  Hodgdon  attempted  to  get  them 
on  by  the  Wind-gap  route,  as  appears  by  the  following 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  295 

directions  he  gave  to  a  person  employed  for  the  pur- 
pose :  — 

"  Mr.  Clark  will  inquire  for  two  wagons  that  are  willing  to 
go  on  with  the  loads  as  far  as  Haller's  tavern,  which  is  two 
miles  this  side  the  Wind-gap,  on  the  road  to  Wyoming,  and 
about  seventy-five  miles  from  Philadelphia.  If  they  are  not 
to  be  obtained  on  this  side  Schools's  tavern,  he  will  deliver  the 
letter  to  Mr.  Schools,  who  will  assist  him  in  getting  them ; 
but,  should  he  not  be  able  to  obtain  them  through  him,  Mr. 
Clark  will  go  on  inquiring  until  he  does  engage  them,  if  it  is 
not  until  he  arrives  at  Bethlehem.  The  tavern-keeper  there 
can  undoubtedly  provide  them  ;  but  if,  contrary  to  all  expec- 
tation, he  cannot  engage  them  at  Bethlehem,  he  will  desire 
Mr.  Haller  to  send  down  wagons  for  the  purpose,  provided 
they  can  be  here  speedily,  for,  at  all  events,  they  must  soon 

go  on. 

"  Samuel  Hodgdon. 

"  July  30th,  1787." 

This  plan  failed.  Xo  adequate  means  of  transporta- 
tion could  be  obtained  by  Mr.  Clarke  by  the  Wind-gap 
route.  On  the  3d  of  August,  Hodgdon,  in  a  letter  to 
Colonel  Pickering,  after  mentioning  some  other  matters, 
says  :  "  But  it  is  time  that  I  let  you  know  that  nothing 
is  yet  forwarded  of  yours.  I  have  done  every  thing  in 
my  power  to  procure  wagons,  but  hitherto  in  vain.  I 
shall  be  obliged  at  last  to  send  them  on  in  wagons 
belonging  here.  I  would  avoid  this,  if  possible,  for  the 
expense  will  be  double  to  what  would  be  demanded  by 
returning  teams."  "  Having  waited,"  as  he  says  in  a  let- 
ter of  the  4th  of  August,  "  for  returning  wagons  until 
my  whole  stock  of  patience  was  exhausted,"  he  agreed 
upon  a  price  for  wagons  to  carry  on  the  goods,  much 
greater  than  he  had  hoped  to  procure  them  for.  "  If 
I  have  erred,  it  is  as  a  zealous  man,  and,  as  such,  will 
readily  be  pardoned." 


296  LIFE   OF    TLMOTHY  PICKERING. 

About  this  time,  Congress  passed  the  Ordinance  rela- 
tive to  the  North-Western  Territory.  Major  Hodgdon, 
hearing  that  the  appointment  of  a  Governor- General 
over  it  was  considered  as  likely  to  fall  upon  either  Gen- 
eral St.  Clair  or  Colonel  Pickering,  sounded  the  Colonel 
on  the  subject,  as  follows :  "  Were  it  possible  you  could 
accede  to  the  appointment,  w^ould  you  go  ?  Would  Mrs. 
Pickering  undertake  another  journey  of  perhaps  fifteen 
hundred  miles  f  The  transportation,  she  should  be 
told,  will  be  principally  by  water.  But  I  suspect  she 
has  had  enough  of  travelling,  at  least  for  the  present." 

Indeed,  as  the  form  of  Major  Hodgdon's  questions 
intimates,  anotlier  removal  of  the  family  could  not,  at 
that  time,  be  thought  of.  It  was  alike  forbidden  by 
Colonel  Pickering's  private  engagements,  in  erecting  his 
buildings  and  opening  his  farm,  and  his  public  obli- 
gations to  devote  himself  to  the  establishment  of  peace 
and  order  in  the  countv  of  Luzerne. 

If  he  had  at  that  time  been  placed  in  command  of  the 
Western  army,  it  might  have  given  a  different  turn  to 
the  ciuTent  of  events.  The  effects  upon  his  own  fortunes, 
and  those  of  the  country,  must  for  ever  remain  matters 
of  curious  speculation.  But  it  was  not  so  ordered.  A 
very  different  experience  was  allotted  him. 

The  actual  state  of  things  at  Wyoming  was  not  so 
favorable  as  his  sanguine  nature  had  led  him  to  expect. 

The  strange  fortunes  to  which,  from  the  beginning  of 
their  history  and  for  the  period  of  a  generation,  that 
people  had  been  subject,  and  the  frequent  alternations 
of  jurisdiction  over  them,  had  given  rise  to  a  pervading 
and  habitual  feeling  of  insecurity  and  suspiciousness. 
The  severe  policy  announced  by  Pennsylvania,  upon  the 


LITE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  297 

final  establishment  of  its  authority  by  an  irreversible 
judicial  decree,  occasioned  the  bitterest  feelings,  which 
the  partial  protection  promised  in  the  quieting  act  of  its 
legislature  did  not  essentially  allav.  Whether  that  act 
would  be  carried  into  effect  was  doubted  by  many.  Its 
repeal  was  apprehended,  and,  as  was  soon  seen,  with  just 
grounds  of  distrust.  The  rule  laid  down  by  the  com- 
missioners appointed  to  determine  the  questions  in  con- 
troversy, by  which  all  lands  resting  upon  Connecticut 
titles,  given  subsequently  to  the  Trenton  decree  of  1782, 
were  laid  open  to  forfeiture,  exasperated  and  rendered 
desperate  a  large  portion  of  the  population,  including 
the  most  active  and  formidable  young  men  who  had 
come  into  the  territory  "•  armed  "  to  "  man  their  rights." 
These  things  all  combined  to  spread  uneasiness,  dis- 
content, and  animosity,  which  agitators  of  all  sorts  stood 
ready  to  aggravate.  This  dangerous  state  of  sentiment 
in  the  territory  was  fostered  moreover  by  outside  par- 
ties. The  land  companies  in  Connecticut  continued  to 
keep  their  eyes  upon  what  was  going  on  at  Wyoming, 
and  imagined  that  they  had  an  interest  that  would  be 
promoted  by  disturbances  there.  In  co-operation  with 
them,  many  persons  of  influence  in  Xew  York  and  else- 
where were  busy  in  concerting  schemes,  based  upon  the 
success  of  efforts  to  resist  the  authority  of  Pennsylvania, 
looking  to  the  separation  of  the  territory  into  a  distinct 
State,  and  to  land  speculations  there,  from  which  they 
were  confident  of  deriving  great  advantages.  These 
outside  parties  regarded  with  pleasure  all  insurrectionary 
movements,  and  did  what  they  could  to  embroil  affairs 
between   Pennsylvania   and    the    people  of  Wyoming. 


298  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

With  these  views,  they  secretly  encouraged  another 
interest,  entirely  distinct  from  theirs,  in  demanding  a 
repeal  of  the  quieting  act.  There  was  a  considerable 
number  of  persons  in  Pennsylvania  who  had  purchased 
Wyoming  lands  of  that  government  in  previous  years, 
when  held  by  tlie  Penn  proprietors,  or  during  those  in- 
tervals when  the  Connecticut  settlers  had  been  driven  off 
and  dispossessed.  The  quieting  act  had  stripped  them 
of  their  titles,  and  they  were  determined  never  to  relax 
their  exertions  to  have  it  repealed.  Owing  to  these 
causes,  a  combined  pressure,  which  it  became  constantly 
more  and  more  evident  would  succeed,  was  kept  up  on 
the  legislature  of  Pennsylvania  to  pass  a  repealing  act. 
The  prospect  of  this  roused  a  just  indignation  among 
the  whole  people  of  the  territory. 

To  heighten  the  mischief,  and  in  aid  of  whatever  led 
to  disorder  and  confusion,  there  was  then  a  general 
weakness  of  authority  and  a  spirit  of  reckless  turbu- 
lence pervading  some  portions  of  the  country,  leading 
in  the  end  to  a  conviction,  throughout  the  States,  that  a 
more  efficient  government  had  become  necessarv  ;  and 
at  this  very  time  the  people  were  everywhere  convulsed 
by  the  processes  of  excited  discussions  and  vehement 
dissensions,  incident  to  the  struggles  that  resulted  in  the 
adoption  of  the  present  Federal  Constitution. 

The  influence  of  all  these  commotions  was  felt  in  the 
Wyoming  ,  district,  and  fomented  passions  that  soon 
broke  out  in  scenes  of  violence.  Some  x^^ssages  of 
Major  Hodgdon's  letters  to  Colonel  Pickering  will  illus- 
trate this  state  of  things,  and  shed  light  upon  the 
general  history  of  that  time. 


LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  299 

"  Philadelphia,  August  31st,  1787. 

"  I  am  happy  to  hear  the  commissioners  are  present,  and 
proceeding  in  the  business  assigned  them.  The  greatest 
firmness  is  become  necessary  to  stop  the  current  that  has  and 
will  prevail  from  delay.  Some  of  the  gentlemen  have  much 
to  answer  for  on  this  score.  If  they  think  so,  they  will  now 
exert  themselves.  Colonel  Zebulon  Butler  is  this  day 
appointed  County  Lieutenant,  and  the  militia  is  to  be  im- 
mediately arranged.  The  spirit  of  the  people  is  up,  and  gov- 
ernment, at  all  hazards,  will  now  be  supported.  The  Assembly 
comes  together  next  week.  Stuart  says  they  will  repeal  the 
confirming  law.  He  is  laughed  at  by  all  men  of  sense,  but 
pei-sists.  The  event  will  be  speedily  known.  Livingston's 
scheme  is  well  understood  here.  He  is  not  alone  in  it. 
Many  considerable  characters  in  York  State,  and  in  his  Brit- 
ish Majesty's  Province  of  Canada,  are  in  the  secret  and  joined 
in  the  business  ;  but  here  it  is  thought  to  be  harmless  from 
the  coloring  given.  You  can  best  judge  of  their  designs  by 
the  movements  they  make.  That  country,  at  all  events,  will 
be  settled,  and  the  present  commotions  will  facilitate  what 
all  wish." 

"  Philadelphia,  September  29th,  1787. 
"  Yesterday  the  question  for  calling  a  convention  to  deter- 
mine on  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution,  lately  recommended, 
was  put.  Findley  and  Whitehill,  at  the  head  of  seventeen 
others,  opposed  it,  but,  finding  the  previous  question  carried, 
they  did  not  return  in  the  afternoon  to  the  adjournment. 
The  Seroeant-at-Arms  was  sent  to  command  their  attendance. 
Hearing  that  they  were  at  Boyd's,  he  went  there,  found 
them,  and  delivered  his  message.  Whitehill  answered  that, 
as  there  was  no  house,  his  orders  were  impertinent  and  would 
not  be  complied  with.  This  answer  being  communicated, 
the  Speaker  and  members,  forty -five  in  number,  adjourned 
until  nine  o'clock,  this  morning.  At  seven  o'clock  an  ex- 
press arrived  from  New  York,  with  the  agreeable  news  that 
Congress  —  eleven  and  a  half  States  being  present  —  had 
unanimouslv  agrreed  to  recommend  the  new  Constitution  to 


300  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

the  United  States.  This,  I  suppose,  will  bring  the  members 
to  the  House,  at  the  adjournment  to-da}^  and  finish  the  reso- 
lution of  yesterday,  for  calling  the  convention." 

*'  To-day  again  the  nineteen  refused  giving  their  attend- 
ance. An  order  was  signed  for  taking  them  into  custody 
by  the  Sergeant-at-Arms,  and  the  Clerk  of  the  House  was 
directed  to  attend  him.  A  number  of  volunteer  gentlemen 
also  attended  him.  The  whole  proceeded  to  Boyd's,  where 
two  only  were  found.  These  w^ere  apprehended,  and  brought 
by  force  of  arms  and  seated.  One  of  them  rose  and  plead 
duress,  and  tendered  his  fine  of  five  shillings,  and  demanded 
liberty  to  depart.  But  he  was  immediately  silenced,  and 
the  business  was  introduced  and  passed,  as  you  will  perceive 
by  the  enclosed  paper.  This  conduct  has  put  an  end  to  the 
constitutional  interest  in  this  city.  The  principals  in  the 
business  are  universally  despised,  and  their  abettors  hide  their 
heads.  The  House,  having  finished  this  and  some  other  busi- 
ness, dissolved  themselves ;  and  writs  are  out  for  holding  an 
election  on  the  ninth  of  next  month,  at  which  time  Franklin 
may  try  what  interest  he  has  got  in  your  county." 

"  Philadelphia,  October  4th,  1787. 

"  Enclosed  you  have  the  papers,  and  the  minutes  of  the 
House,  to  the  close  of  the  session  ;  and  the  curious  defence 
made  by  the  abandoned  nineteen  for  their  secession  from  the 
Assembly,  on  Friday  and  Saturday  last.  State  warrants 
were  talked  of  to  apprehend  certain  obnoxious  characters  for 
aiding  the  Sergeant-at-Arms  in  bringing  them  to  their  duty. 
But  the  Chief  Justice,  being  consulted,  put  an  end  to  the 
measure.  He  declared  that  the  mass  of  the  people  were  so 
incensed  at  their  conduct  that  tumult  and  further  outrage 
would  be  the  inevitable  consequence.  So  the  matter  rests 
for  the  present.  You  will  see  Whitehill,  the  Jesuit,  con- 
spicuous in  the  debate  on  the  last  Wyoming  bill.  Distrac- 
tion and  confusion  are  essential  to  the  existence  of  such 
consummate  villains.  The  terms  are  harsh,  but  I  confess  I 
am  exceeding  angry  with  them.  I  will  leave  them  and 
politics  at  this  time." 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  301 

The  state  of  things  in  Luzerne  county  gave  uneasi- 
ness to  Colonel  Pickering's  friends  at  Philadelphia. 
They  felt  that  he  might  need  encouragement,  and  they 
gave  it,  as  in  the  following  characteristic  letter  from 
his  family  physician,  intimate  associate,  and  earnest 
compatriot :  — 

"  Philadelphia,  August  30th,  1787. 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  I  have  only  time  to  assure  you  that  you  will  meet  with 
the  steady  support  of  your  friends  in  executing  the  late  law 
of  the  State  of  which  you  are  appointed  a  commissioner. 
Perhaps  a  short  visit  to  Philadelphia  during  the  approaching 
session  of  the  Assembly  might  be  useful.  Keep  a  good  heart 
and  23ut  a  hold  face  upon  things.  All  will  end  well.  The 
new  Federal  government,  like  a  new  Continental  wagon, 
will  overset  our  State  dung-cart,  with  all  its  dirty  contents 
(reverend  and  irreverend),  and  thereby  restore  order  and 
happiness  to  Pennsylvania.  From  the  conversation  of  the 
members  of  the  Convention,  there  is  reason  to  believe  the 
Federal  Constitution  will  be  wise,  vigorous,  safe,  free,  and 
full  of  dignity.  General  Washington,  it  is  said,  will  be  placed 
at  the  head  of  the  new  government,  or,  in  the  style  of  my 
simile,  will  drive  the  new  wagon. 

"  With  compliments  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  I  am,  dear  Sir,  yours 
sincerely, 

"  BENJA]\nN  Rush." 

The  first  explosion  of  the  combustible  elements  that 
had  so  long  been  gathering  among  the  people  of  Wyom- 
ing, took  place  under  circumstances  thus  described  by 
Colonel  Pickering  in  his  letter  to  his  son,  already  largely 
cited,  written  in  1818  •  — 

"  In  Ma}^  1787,  a  quorum  of  the  commissioners  *  met  at 
Wyoming,  now  Wilkesbarre,  and  gave  notice  of  the  mode  in 

*  The  board  of  commissioners  consisted  of  Colonels  Timothy  Pickering, 
William  Montgomery,  and  Stephen  Balliott. 


302  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

which  they  meant  to  proceed  in  examining  claims,  and  called 
on  the  people  to  prepare  the  requisite  evidence  to  support 
them,  to  be  presented  to  the  commissioners  at  their  next 
meeting,  to  take  place  at  Wilkesbarre,  in  August  or  Septem- 
ber following.  Many  claims  were  then  presented  and  ex- 
amined ;  and  the  commissioners  were  proceeding  regularly, 
with  a  fair  prospect  of  completing  their  work  in  a  reasonable 
time:  when  tliey  were  interrupted,  and,  for  their  personal 
safet}^  obliged  to  retire  from  the  county.  John  Franklin,  a 
shrewd  and  resolute  man,  the  prime  agent  of  the  Susque- 
hanna Company,  and  the  chosen  commander  of  the  militia, 
with  the  title  of  Colonel,  had  been  for  some  time  visiting  all 
the  settlements,  to  stir  up  the  people  to  an  open  and  forcible 
opposition  to  the  government  of  Pennsylvania.  Evidence  of 
these  practices  having  been  communicated  (I  know  not  by 
whom)  to  Chief  Justice  M'Kean,  he  issued  his  warrant  for 
the  arrest  of  Franklin,  on  a  charge  of  treason  against  the 
State.  The  sheriff  of  the  county  (for  it  had  been  completely 
organized,  under  the  authority  committed  to  me,  as  before 
mentioned),  chosen  by  the  people  (according  to  law  and 
the  usage  of  Pennsylvania)  and  living  among  them,  was  not 
deemed  the  proper  person  to  execute  the  warrant,  though  a 
very  worthy  man  ;  but  who  either  would  not  have  been  able 
to  arrest  Franklin,  or,  by  doing  it,  rendering  himself  obnox- 
ious to  the  mass  of  turbulent  men,  might  be  in  too  great 
danger  of  their  vengeance.  The  Chief  Justice  therefore 
directed  his  warrant  to  four  gentlemen  of  known  fortitude, 
two  or  three  of  whom  had  been  officers  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  On  their  arrival  they  showed  me  the  Chief  Justice's 
warrant.  Franklin  was  at  that  time  about  twenty  or  twenty- 
five  miles  lower  down  the  river,  preparing  his  adherents  for 
the  explosion.  In  three  or  four  days  he  came  up  to  Wilkes- 
barre. The  four  gentlemen  seized  him.  Two  of  their  horses 
were  in  my  stable,  which  were  sent  to  them  ;  but  soon  my 
servant  returned  on  one  of  them,  with  a  message  from  the 
gentlemen,  that  people  were  assembling  in  numbers,  and 
requesting  me  to  come  with  what  men  were  near  me,  to  pre- 
vent a  rescue.  I  took  loaded  pistols  in  my  hands,  and  went 
with  another  servant  to  their  aid.    Just  as  I  met  them,  Frank- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  303 

lin  tlirew  himself  off  from  his  horse  and  renewed  his  struggle 
with  them.  His  hair  was  dishevelled  and  face  bloody  from 
preceding  efforts.  I  told  the  gentlemen  they  would  never 
carry  him  off  unless  his  feet  were  tied  under  his  horse's  belly. 
I  sent  for  a  cord.  Tlie  gentlemen  remounted  him,  and  my 
servant  tied  his  feet.  Then  one,  taking  his  bridle,  another 
following  behind,  and  the  others  riding  one  on  each  side, 
they  whipped  up  his  horse,  and  were  soon  beyond  the  reach 
of  his  friends. 

"  But  this  open  aid  given  by  me  and  my  servants,  in  secur- 
ing Franklin,  exposed  me  to  the  vengeful  resentment  of  his 
adherents.  I  would  have  avoided  this  step  if  I  had  not 
believed  the  welfare  of  the  good  people  of  the  county  and  the 
public  peace  depended  on  securing  the  person  of  that  daring 
man.  My  particular  friends,  discreet  men,  who  knew  infi- 
nitely better  than  I  the  character  of  his  adherents,  assured  me 
they  would  assemble  and  retaliate  on  me  the  treatment  of 
their  leader,  and  probably  do  me  serious  bodily  harm  ;  and 
advised  me  to  go  out  of  the  wgy  and  secrete  myself  until  the 
fury  of  the  storm  should  pass  over.  This  was  in  the  after- 
noon of  the  2d  of  October.  I  retired  to  a  close  wood  not  far 
from  the  house  I  occupied.  In  the  evening  I  returned  to 
my  family.  Some  of  the  well-disposed  neighbors  assembled 
with  their  arms.  The  rising  of  Franklin's  men  was  expected 
from  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  I  desired  my  friends  to 
place  sentinels  along  the  bank,  where  they  might  discover  the 
first  movements  for  crossing  the  river ;  and  then  sat  down  to 
sup  with  my  family.  Before  I  had  finished  that  meal  a  sen- 
tinel came  in  haste  from  the  river,  and  informed  me  that 
Franklin's  adherents  were  crossing  in  boats.  My  house  was 
within  a  furlong  of  the  river.  I  took  up  a  loaded  pistol  and 
three  or  four  small  biscuits,  and  retired  to  a  neighboring 
field.  Soon  the  yell  of  the  insurgents  apprised  me  of  their 
arrival  at  my  house.  I  listened  to  their  noises  a  full  half- 
hour,  when,  the  clamor  ceasing,  I  judged  that  the  few  armed 
neighbors,  who  had  previously  entered  and  fastened  the 
doors,  had  surrendered.  This  was  the  fact.  The  rioters  (as 
I  afterwards  learnt  from  your  mother)  searched  the  house  for 
me,  and  for  concealed  arms,  if  any  there  were. 


304  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICFEIIING. 

"  Whi^e  I  was  listening,  Griffith  Evans,  secretary  to  the 
board  of  commissioners,  and  a  lodger  at  m}"  house,  retiring 
from  it,  fortunately  taking  the  same  course,  joined  me.  Be- 
lieving that  when  they  should  have  searched  the  house  in 
vain,  the}^  would  proceed  to  the  near  fields  to  find  me,  I  told 
Mr.  Evans  it  would  be  well  to  retire  still  farther.  When  we 
had  gained  the  side  of  Wilkesbarre  mountain,  we  laid  our- 
selves down,  and  got  some  sleep.  In  the  morning  I  descried, 
at  the  distance  of  a  mile  or  more,  a  log-house,  which  was  on 
a  lot  of  land  I  had  purchased,  and  near  a  mile  from  the  vil- 
lage, and  occupied  bv  an  honest  German,  whose  daughter 
lived  with  your  mother,  as  a  maid.  I  proposed  to  Mr.  Evans, 
as  he  had  no  personal  injury  to  apprehend  from  the  rioters,  to 
go  to  the  log-house,  and  ask  the  German,  in  my  behalf,  to  go 
down  to  my  house  (which,  as  his  daughter  was  there,  would 
be  perfectly  natural),  and  if  he  could  see  your  mother,  in- 
quire what  was  the  state  of  things,  and  whether  I  could  re- 
turn with  safety.  Mr.  Evans  waited  his  return ;  and  then 
brought  me  word  from  your  ipother  that  I  must  remain  con- 
cealed ;  for  they  were  still  searching  for  me.  It  was  now 
about  eleven  o'clock.  I  told  Mr.  Evans  that,  as  I  could  not 
return  to  Wilkesbarre,  we  had  better  proceed  for  Philadel- 
phia, and  inform  the  executive  of  the  state  of  things  at  Wyom- 
ing. He  readily  assented ;  and  we  immediately  commenced 
our  march.  It  was  through  pathless  woods  ;  and  we  had  no 
provisions  except  the  three  or  four  biscuits  I  had  put  into  my 
pocket  the  preceding  evening.  That  we  might  not  get  lost, 
I  proposed  turning  short  to  our  left,  to  strike  the  road  leading 
from  Wyoming ;  and  thence  take  our  departure  with  more 
safety.  We  did  so ;  and  then  again  darting  into  the  woods, 
proceeded,  as  nearly  as  we  could  judge,  in  a  line  parallel  to 
the  road,  but  not  in  sight  of  it.  A  little  before  sun-setting, 
we  came  to  a  small  run  of  water  which  I  supposed  to  be  the 
'  nine-mile  run,^  being  at  that  distance  from  Wilkesbarre.  I 
therefore  desired  Mr.  Evans  to  go  cautiously  down  the  run, 
till  he  should  strike  the  road  which  crossed  it.  He  did  so ;  it 
was  not  far  off.  On  his  return,  we  concluded  to  lie  down,  to 
get  some  sleep;  intending  to  rise,  when  the  moon  should  be 
up,  at  about  two  the  next  morning,  and  prosecute  our  jour- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  305 

nev.  About  two  miles  from  the  nine-mile  run,  was  Bear 
Creek,  a  stream  perhaps  forty  or  fifty  feet  wide,  and  without 
a  bridge.  Having  several  times  travelled  that  road,  I  knew 
when  we  approached  it.  There  I  thought  it  probable  the  in- 
surgents had  posted  a  small  guard  to  intercept  me,  leaving 
their  main  guard  at  a  deserted  cabin  four  miles  back.  Mr. 
Evans  proposed  to  advance  alone  to  reconnoitre  ;  and,  if  he 
discovered  there  anv  armed  men,  to  halloo,  that  I  might 
escape  into  the  woods.  I  told  him  that  was  impracticable  ; 
fatigued,  and  destitute  of  provisions,  I  could  not  fly ;  that 
each  of  us  had  a  loaded  pistol,  that  I  presumed  the  guard  at 
the  Creek  would  not  exceed  three  men  ;  that  if  they  attempted 
to  take  us,  we  must  each  kill  his  man,  when  the  third  would 
be  glad  to  escape.  AVith  this  determination,  we  proceeded. 
The  Creek  was  not  guarded  ;  we  forded  it,  and  then  marched 
at  our  ease.  In  the  morning  we  reached  the  first  inhabited 
house,  about  twenty-five  miles  from  Wilkesbarre.  Here  we 
were  refreshed  with  a  comfortable  breakfast,  and  then  went 
on  our  way.  Having  travelled  some  miles  farther,  we  came 
to  some  farmers'  houses,  where  we  hired  horses ;  and  then 
continued  our  journey  to  Philadelphia. 

"  On  my  return  to  AVilkesbarre,  I  was  informed  that  the 
arrangement  of  the  guards,  to  intercept  me,  was  precisely  as 
I  had  conjectured.  A  subaltern's  command  marched  to  the 
deserted  cabin,  whence  three  men  were  detached  to  Bear 
Creek,  where  they  waited  till  night,  when  they  returned  to 
the  cabin ;  concluding  that  I  had  reached  the  Creek  before 
them . 

'*  The  insurgents,  soon  brought  to  reflection,  and  deprived 
of  the  counsel  and  direction  of  their  leader,  Franklin,  began 
to  relent,  and  sent  a  petition  to  the  executive  council,  ac- 
knowledging their  offence,  and  praj-ing  for  a  pardon.  This 
was  readily  granted ;  and  Colonel  Denison,  the  Luzerne 
Councillor,  went  up  with  the  pardon.  It  was  natural  to  in- 
fer from  this,  that  I  might  return  in  safety  to  my  family.  I 
proceeded  accordingly  ;  but,  when  within  twenty-five  miles,  I 
sent  by  my  servant  who  was  with  me  a  letter  to  your  mother, 
desiring  her  to  consult  some  of  the  discreet  neighbors,  who 
were  my  friends,  relative  to  my  return.     She  did  so.     They 

Vol.  II.  20 


306  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

were  of  opinion,  tliat  T  could  not  return  with  safety  at  pres- 
ent.    So  I  went  back  to  Philadelphia. 

**  In  September,  1787,  the  convention  of  delegates  from  the 
several  States,  to  form  a  Constitution  for  the  United  States, 
which  had  been  sitting  several  months  in  Philadelphia,  con- 
cluded their  labors.  They  recommended  that  the  Constitu- 
tion should  be  submitted  to  a  convention  of  delegates,  to  be 
chosen  in  each  State  by  the  peoi)le  thereof  under  the  recom- 
mendation of  its  legislature,  for  their  assent  and  ratification. 
Such  a  convention  being  called  by  the  legislature  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, the  people  of  Luzerne  county  chose  ME  their  delegate^  to 
represent  them  in  it!  This  convention  assembled  in  Phila- 
delphia (where  I  still  remained),  I  think  early  in  December. 
After  a  great  deal  of  discussion,  the  convention  assented  to 
and  ratified  the  Constitution.  It  was  engrossed  on  parch- 
ment, and  received  the  signatures  of  nearly  all  the  delegates, 
including  the  opposers  while  under  discussion,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  some  three  or  four  obstinate  men,  and,  to  the  best 
of  my  recollection  of  their  characters,  as  ignorant  as  obstinate. 
The  opposers  of  its  adoption  were  the  extra-republicans,  or 
democrats  —  the  same  sort  of  men  who  afterwards  were 
called  antifederalists,  and  who  uniformly  opposed  all  the  lead- 
ing measures  of  the  general  government. 

"  I  could  now  no  longer  doubt  that  I  might  return  to 
Wyoming.  I  arrived  there  the  beginning  of  January, 
1788." 

The  above  narrative  was  written  by  Colonel  Picker- 
ing from  memory  thirty  years  afterwards,  and  evidently 
without  recurring  to  his  papers.  It  is,  however,  re- 
markably in  accordance  with  them,  as  appears  from  some 
here  added,  which  will,  moreover,  enable  the  reader 
more  fully  to  bring  the  occurrences  into  view.  The  fol- 
lowing letter  to  his  wife  was  written  on  the  third  day 
after  his  escape  from  the  mob  at  Wyoming,  probably  at 
the  place  where  he  and  Evans  obtained  horses.  They 
had  made  some  thirty  miles'  progress  through   the  for- 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  307 

est,  having  spent  much  time  in  reconnoitring,  and  slept 
three  nights  in  the  woods  on  bare  ground. 

"  Savages,  October  5th,  1787. 

"  Mr  Dear  Beckey, 
"  I  am  here  in  heahh  and  safety,  and  shall  presently  set 
out  for  Philadelphia.  My  only  concern  is  for  you,  Betsey, 
and  our  dear  babes.  But  I  think  the  men  in  arms  are  not 
capable  of  hurting  or  insulting  any  of  you.  I  am  sure  none 
but  savages  would  do  it.  Now  that  I  have  escaped  them,  I 
hope  they  will  leave  you  in  peace.  I  have  not  seen  John 
Scott,  nor  know  his  business  in  Philadelphia.  But  if  the 
party  leave  you,  I  think  you  and  the  family  had  best  remain 
where  you  are  at  present,  for  I  persuade  myself  all  opposition 
will  soon  cease.  I  am  morally  sure  that  government  will 
take  decided  measures  to  support  its  authority,  and  I  may 
soon  return  to  you  in  safety.  I  have  conversed  with  Esquire 
Gore,  who  is  to  deliver  this ;  and  begged  him  to  advise  and 
assist  you  in  every  thing.  He  is  a  judicious  man,  well  knows 
the  people,  and  can  and  will  give  you  the  best  advice,  by 
which  I  think  it  best  your  measures  should  be  governed. 
My  heart  has  bled  for  your  distresses.  If  God  spares  my 
life,  my  future  increased  attentions  will,  I  hope,  in  some  de- 
gree, counterbalance  your  extraordinary  sufferings.  Kiss  for 
me  all  the  dear  boys,  and  give  Betsey  my  very  kind  affection. 
With  a  heart  devoted  to  your  safety  and  happiness,  I  remain 

yours  while  life  shall  last. 

"T.  Pickering." 

Upon  reaching  Philadelphia,  he  wrote  again  to  his 
wife.  The  letter  is  given  entire,  because  it  shows  the 
extreme  inconveniences  to  which  he  was  put  in  being 
suddenly  driven  from  home,  at  that  season,  when  his 
presence  was  so  much  needed  to  secure  the  crops,  just 
ready  to  be  harvested  ;  to  get  his  buildings  ht  for  occu- 
pation ;  and  to  make  a  general  preparation  for  the  ap- 
proaching winter :  and,  also,  because  it  may  serve  as  a 
specimen  of  the  letters  he  was  constantly  writing  to  his 


308  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

wife,  when  separated  from  her  and  the  family,  as  he  was, 
for  long  intervals  of  time,  during  the  greater  part  of  his 
life.  They  are  found  without  number  scattered  through 
the  mass  of  his  manuscripts,  and  would  fill  volumes.  As 
has  been  stated,  he  ever  considered  the  care  of  his 
household  a  duty  of  the  very  first  moment.  In  previous 
years,  when  bearing  the  burden  of  the  office  of  Quarter- 
master-General of  the  Hevolutionary  army,  and  subse- 
quently while  at  the  head  of  great  departments  of  the 
general  government  in  the  Cabinet  at  Washington,  and 
in  both  Houses  of  Congress,  the  oversight  of  his  family 
was  never  interrupted.  He  thought  of  and  provided  for 
the  minutest  details  that  related  to  the  comfort  and 
welfare  of  his  distant  home,  and  to  the  condition  of  his 
fields,  stock,  and  produce.  His  wife  was  faithful  and 
competent  to  the  trust  he  reposed  in  her,  followed  his 
counsels,  and  conducted  his  affairs  with  the  utmost  care- 
fulness and  good  judgment.  No  woman  ever  better 
merited  the  most  honorable  title  a  woman  can  bear,  a 
help-meet  for  her  husband. 

"Philadelphia,  October  10th,  1787. 

"My  Dearest  Beckey, 

"  You  will  easily  conceive  the  joy  I  felt  when  Mr.  Bowman 
announced  that  you,  Betsey,  and  the  children  were  all  safe 
and  in  tranquillity.  God  be  praised !  I  trust  we  shall  remain 
uninjured,  and  that  I  may  soon  return  to  you  in  peace.  The 
government  will  eventually  do  what  is  requisite  to  ensure 
the  quiet  of  the  county.  It  is  probable,  forgiveness  will  be 
extended  to  all  who  took  up  arms  after  Franklin  was  taken, 
provided  they  continue,  what  they  now  have  professed  they 
will  be,  peaceable  subjects.  I  am  charmed  with  the  account 
of  your  fortitude. 

*'  Agreeably  to  my  advice  by  Esquire  Gore,  I  suppose  the  car- 
penters are  at  work.  I  wish  the  house  to  go  forward  as  fast 
as  may  be,  excepting  the  chimney,  which  let  rest  till  I  come 


LIFE   OF    TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  309 

up.  If  Dean  remains,  he  may  be  employed  in  digging  the 
potatoes  as  soon  as  they  are  ripe,  which  must  be,  I  imagine, 
by  the  close  of  this  week.  I  would  have  the  bulk  of  them 
laid  in  heaps,  on  a  high  spot  in  the  field,  and  properly  covered, 
to  secure  them  through  the  winter.  As  soon  as  some  of  the 
corn  is  hard  enough,  he  may  begin  to  gather  and  dry  enough 
to  grind  for  mush.  There  are  several  sorts  of  potatoes.  You 
can  try  them  all,  and  choose  what  you  like  best  for  family 
use.  Let  them  be  put  in  distinct  heaps  in  the  held.  William 
George  and  George  can  assist  Dean  in  these  things.  Doctor 
Sprague  may  go  on  with  the  stable,  according  to  my  orders, 
taking  George  Geary's  directions  in  the  execution.  Dean 
can  assist  the  Doctor  in  all  the  work ;  and  this  I  would  have 
him  to  do,  in  preference  to  digging  potatoes,  &c.,  which 
William  and  George  can  do  when  Dean'is  engaged  with  the 
Doctor.  I  would  have  the  horses  well  taken  care  of,  and  get 
some  grain  every  day.  Some  of  the  people  who  owe  me 
grain  can  perhaps  furnish  oats.  There  are  some  winter 
squashes  as  well  as  pumpkins  among  the  corn,  which  should 
be  brought  home,  and  j)tit  where  tliey  will  be  dry  and  safe 
from  frost  till  used. 

"  I  shall  detain  John  Scott  a  few  days,  that,  if  government 
or  myself  should  have  occasion  to  send  to  Wyoming,  a  con- 
veyance may  be  ready.  I  shall  send  a  few  necessaries  by 
John,  particularly  some  tea. 

*^  The  family  will  want  meat.  Mr.  Bowman  can  employ 
Wm.  Ross  or  Xathan  Gary  to  purchase  another  steer,  heifer, 
or  cow  for  beef,  and  William  George  can  put  it  up.  You 
know  where  to  get  money.  Save  as  much  of  the  bacon  as 
you  can,  and  keep  enough  of  the  molasses  to  use  for  beer  and 
with  mush,  instead  of  milk.  Direct  a  plenty  of  vegetables  to 
be  always  boiled,  to  save  the  meat ;  and  sometimes  perhaps 
roasted  potatoes  may  serve  the  men  for  supper. 

"  Our  friends  here  are  generally  well.  I  am  myself  in 
perfect  health,  and  the  pain  in  my  shoulder  has  nearly  left 
me.  With  my  love  to  Betsey  and  the  boys,  I  bid  you  a  cor- 
dial adieu. 

'^T.   Pickering." 


310  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

Two  days  after,  he  wrote  to  her  again,  as  follows  :  — 

"  Mr.  Horton  proposes  to  set  out  to-morrow  morning  for 
Wyoming.  I  write  this  just  to  inform  you  of  my  health  and 
impatience  to  return  to  you.  But  I  cannot  fix  the  day,  be- 
cause I  am  not  informed  of  the  progress  made  in  detaching 
the  troops  destined  for  Wilkesbarre.  That  troops  are  raising 
for  the  purpose  will  be  known  amongst  you  ;  yet  you  need 
not  speak  of  it.  I  felt  disposed  to  go  up  before  them,  but  Mr. 
Hollenback  and  Mr.  Bowman  advised  to  the  contrary.  I 
shall  endeavor  to  hasten  the  measure  as  much  as  possible. 
Kiss  the  dear  boys  for  me.  My  kind  love  to  Betsey,  most 
affectionately  adieu!" 

It  will  be  remembered  by  the  reader  that  Colonel 
Pickering,  upon  hearing  of  the  near  approach  of  the 
rioters,  left  his  home  in  the  evening.  The  situation  of 
his  wife  may  be  imagined.  He  had  gone  alone  into  the 
wilderness,  without  any  provisions  but  a  few  biscuits 
snatched  from  the  table :  what  course  he  would  take,  or 
what  would  be  his  fate,  none  could  tell.  Evans,  the 
secretary  of  the  commissioners,  and  a  boarder  in  the 
family,  had  also  disappeared.  The  remarkable  circum- 
stance that  they  happened  to  meet  and  recognize  each 
other  in  the  fields  bordering  on  the  woods,  after  the 
night  had  set  in,  was  then  unknown.  The  rioters  gath- 
ered around  the  house  witk  wild  yells  of  rage,  over- 
powered and  disarmed  the  men-servants  and  a  few 
neighbors,  who,  apprehending  the  outrage,  had  collected 
to  defend  it,  forced  an  entrance,  and  ransacked  it  from 
garret  to  cellar,  breathing  wrath  and  uttering  threats  of 
violence.  Failing  in  the  object  of  their  search,  they 
withdrew  with  sullen  imprecations  ;  and  Mrs.  Picker- 
ing, with  her  sister  and  children,  were  left  with  none 
to  protect  them. 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  311 

It  must  have  been  a  night  of  horror.  In  her  delicate 
situation,  with  an  infant  not  three  weeks  old,  her  con- 
dition, as  she  was  wont  to  relate  it,  was  one  of  ex- 
treme distress.  She  had  been  but  a  few  months  in  the 
place,  was  a  stranger  among  a  strange  people,  most  of 
whom  were  infuriated  against  her  husband.  The  shock 
was  frightful,  and  for  a  time  broke  her  down.  But  she 
soon  rose  above  the  terrors  and  sufferings  of  the  occa- 
sion. Although  the  gentlest  and  meekest  of  her  sex, 
this  woman  possessed  a  latent  energy  of  character, 
always  equal  to  the  emergency.  In  a  few  days  her  self- 
composure  was  recovered,  her  spirit  and  strength  re- 
vived, and  she  took  decisive  measures.  Her  sagacity 
enabled  her  to  appreciate,  better  than  her  husband  had 
done  or  afterwards  did,  the  dangerous  elements  that  were 
fermenting  in  the  minds  of  the  people  of  that  region, 
and  she  resolved  to  place  at  once  beyond  their  reach 
as  many  of  her  family  as  she  could.  She  herself,  hav- 
ing an  infant  in  her  arms,  could  not  escape  from  the 
scene.  She  felt,  too,  that  some  one  must  remain  to  look 
after  the  house,  the  farm,  and  the  stock,  and  supervise 
the  operations  of  the  carpenters  and  other  mechanics 
already  engaged  on  the  place.  Her  sister  would  not 
leave  her. 

A  faithful  female  domestic  was  put  in  charge  of  the 
four  little  boys,  the  youngest  of  them  a  year  and  eight 
months,  the  eldest  just  eight  years,  of  age.  Two  trusty 
male  servants  were  directed  forthwith  to  prepare  the 
wagon,  —  all  the  horses  were  to  be  tackled  to  it,  —  and, 
within  a  week,  the  two  men,  the  women,  and  the  chil- 
dren, with  such  articles  as  they  might  need  in  their 
long  and  rough  journey,  w^ere  on  their  way  to  Phila- 
delphia. 


312  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  riCKERING. 

Some  p«issages  of  letters  will  here  be  read  with  in- 
terest. 

"  WiLKESBARRE,  October  16th,  1787. 

'•  My  Dear  Mr.  Pickering, 
*■'  Mr.  Bowman  arrived  last  Saturday  evening,  and  gave  me 
your  favor  of  the  10th  inst.  I  was  made  happy  by  the  ac- 
count it  contained  of  your  welfare.  Since  you  left  me,  till 
within  these  two  or  three  daj's,  my  mind  has  been  so  agi- 
tated, that  I  have  been  quite  unfit  for  any  business.  I  was, 
at  first,  determined  to  leave  the  place.  So  strong  was  my 
intention,  that  I  thought  myself  able  to  travel  through  the 
swamp  on  foot,  and  carrying  my  infant,  if  no  ready  conveyance 
presented.  On  thinking  more  of  the  matter,  I  altered  my 
resolution,  and  concluded  to  send  the  children,  though  con- 
trary to  everybodj^'s  opinion  that  I  talked  with  on  the  sub- 
ject. I  was  repeatedly  told  my  family  was  in  no  danger.  I 
could  not  believe  people  that  had  used  the  family  as  some  of 
them  had  without  any  reason.  I  thought  any  circumstance 
occurring  which  did  not  agree  with  their  ideas,!  and  the 
familv  mio^ht  be  treated  in  a  manner  not  more  favorable.  It 
is  possible  you  may  disapprove  of  my  sending  the  children, 
but  my  anxiety  for  their  safety  was  so  great  I  could  not  keep 
them  with  me.  I  had  much  rather  suffer  mj^self  than  have 
them  suffer,  should  it  be  the  case.  I  am  exceedingly  distressed 
that  you  think  of  returning.  I  fear  you  will  not  be  able  to 
live  in  safety.  You  have  strong  enemies,  and  they  are  of  the 
worst  kind,  secret  ones  many  of  them.  There  have  been 
many  reports  of  the  threats  that  have  been  thrown  out,  not 
against  persons  only,  but  their  property  and  their  cattle  : 
how  true  they  are,  I  cannot  say,  but  am  inclined  to  think 
not  without  some  foundation. 

''  I  remain  yours  affectionately, 

''  Rebecca  Pickering." 

"WiLKESBARRE,  Octobct  22d,  1787;  Sunday  evening. 

"  My  Dear  Mr.  Pickering, 
"  John  Scott  arrived  here  last  evening.     I  am  distressed 
at  the  idea  of  your  returning  under  the  present  circumstances, 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  313 

without  sufficient  force  to  secure  your  person ;  for,  whatever 
may  be  the  general  opinion,  your  friends,  few  in  number,  are 
convinced  you  will  be  taken  prisoner,  if  not  ill-used.  Mr. 
Bowman  will  write  to  you.  I  think  you  will  pay  attention  to 
what  he  says.  You  may  attribute  what  I  say  to  the  weakness  of 
my  sex.  All  is  at  j)resent  peaceable,  but  time  will  show  if  from 
right  principles.  Your  enemies  wish  to  get  you.  Then  they 
think  they  can  make  their  own  terms  with  government  about 
Franklin.  They  will  use  you  as  he  is  used,  and,  finally, 
they  think,  compel  the  State  to  release  him,  or  you  must 
suffer.  I  beg  you  to  think  seriously  of  these  circumstances. 
I  think  the  State  would  not  want  vou  to  fall  a  sacrifice  to 
their  resentments.  Your  family,  too,  has  a  claim  upon  your 
life,  when  it  can  be  preserved  with  honor  to  yourself  and 
justice  to  your  country.  I  look  upon  most  people  here  with 
a  suspicious  eye. 

"  I  remain,  with  affection,  sincerely  yours, 

"  Rebecca  Pickering." 

These  earnest  remonstrances  against  his  return  prob- 
ably produced  on  his  mind  the  opposite  effect  from  that 
designed.  Her  heroic  preference  to  remain  unprotected 
rather  than  have  him  exposed  to  danger,  so  wrought 
upon  his  affection,  gallantry,  and  manly  courage,  that  he 
felt,  as  he  read  her  words,  inspired  with  a  determination 
to  fly  to  her  rescue  and  defence  whatever  the  hazard  to 
himself.  He  could  not,  moreover,  be  persuaded  that 
her  fears  were  fully  authorized.  The  rioters  had  appar- 
ently repented  of  their  violence, —  had  sued  for  pardon, 
which,  after  consultation  with  him,  had  been  granted  by 
the  government  on  their  promise  of  good  behavior.  He 
was  inclined  to  think  that  their  demonstration  of  rage 
against  him  was  the  effect  of  sudden  excitement  on  the 
seizure  of  Franklin  and  his  agency  in  it,  and  that  the  regret 
they  had  expressed  in  their  petition  was  sincere.  At  any 
rate,  he  resolved  to  return  forthwith  to  Wyoming.      On 


314  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

his  way,  he  wrote  back  to  Major  Hodgdon,  under  date 
of  October  19th,  1787,  from  Easton.  The  letter  relates 
mostly  to  business  matters,  as  the  following  passage  in 
particular ;  — 

"  As  I  go  forward  with  an  intention  of  getting  up  my  house, 
and  hastening  its  completion,  so  far  as  to  render  it  habitable,  I 
must  beg  you  to  procure  for  me  a  few  more  articles,  and  send 
the  whole  as  quick  as  possible  to  George  Fry  at  Middleto  wn. 
Two  boxes  of  glass,  7  by  9.  I  saw  some  at  Towers's,  in  Mar- 
ket Street,  for  Avhich  he  asked  £5,  single  box,  but  offered 
me  two  at  <£4  15s.  each.  This  was  Bristol  glass.  One  fault 
of  the  Trieste  glass  is,  that  'tis  wavy,  and  shows  a  thousand 
surfaces  in  one  pane.  If  you  have  opportunity,  pray  ask  the 
advice  of  a  sensible  glazier  about  the  proper  choice.  One  box 
of  chocolate  at  Captain  Donnel's.  One  barrel  of  brown  sugar  ; 
twenty-five  or  thirty  pounds  of  tea.  Please  to  call  at  Mr. 
Doz's  for  a  bundle  of  mine.  In  it  you  will  find  a  number  of 
papers,  and  among  them  the  invoice  I  sent  you,  and  another 
made  out  on  a  half-sheet  of  paper  on  the  two  sides,  in  which 
latter  are  the  articles  I  should  Avish  to  have,  if  there  were 
means  to  procure  them ;  but  I  will  urge  nothing  at  present 
that  will  embarrass  you  in  respect  to  money,  farther  than 
the  three  articles  before  mentioned,  of  glass,  sugar,  and  tea. 
The  chocolate  is  already  paid  for.  If,  however,  in  looking 
over  the  invoice  aforementioned,  you  see  any  other  articles 
which  you  deem  necessary  (for  I  forget  most  of  them),  I  shall 
be  much  obliged  by  your  sending  them.  Please  to  forward 
duplicate  accounts  of  the  whole.  The  papers  left  at  Mr. 
Doz's  may  come  by  any  good  conveyance. 

"  I  feel  myself  very  sensibly  obliged  by  the  readiness  mani- 
fested by  my  friends  to  receive  and  take  care  of  the  children. 
I  shall  write  you  about  them  after  I  have  consulted  my  wife." 

A  postscript  to  this  letter  has  the  request :  — 

"  Please  to  write  a  hue  to  Mr.  Williams  on  my  situation, 
but  not  in  the  dismals.'^ 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  315 

He  had  sent  John  Scott  forward  to  apprise  his  wife 
of  his  coming,  and  then  to  return  and  meet  him.  The 
following  letter  gives  some  of  the  incidents  of  his 
progress:  ■ — 

"Zawitz  (that  is  Savage's),  Sunday 
evening,  October  21st,  1787. 

"  My  Dear  Beckey, 
"  I  presume  John  Scott  arrived  at  Wilkesbarre  to-day  by 
noon.  By  him  you  will  have  learnt  that  I  met  Mr.  Horton, 
five  miles  on  this  side  Bethlehem,  and  that  he  informed  me 
that  Captain  Schott  had  letters  for  me,  but  was  gone  to  Easton. 
So  I  rode  on,  and  turned  off  for  Easton,  where  I  found  him 
on  Thursday  evening.  Those  letters,  and  Schott's  information, 
induced  me  to  determine  to  go  to  you,  instead  of  sending 
for  you  and  Betsey  to  come  out,  for  which  I  had  made  prep- 
arations. For,  by  your  letter,  my  dear,  I  found  you  had  no 
thought  of  leaving  Wilkesbarre.  The  repairs  of  the  wagon 
were  not  made  at  Bethlehem,  as  I  expected.  So  this  detained 
George.  However,  I  reached  Xazareth  in  time  to  enable  us 
to  proceed  to  Haller's  last  night.  This  morning  I  found 
many  things  to  be  done  to  the  wagon,  which,  with  stowing 
some  loading,  took  us  till  half-past  eleven  o'clock.  The 
horses  do  very  well.  Nevertheless,  I  intend  to  go  no  farther 
than  Luce's,  at  Tobyhanna,  to-morrow,  and  feed  the  horses 
well,  to  enable  us  to  start  very  early  on  Tuesday  morning,  so 
as  to  reach  Kelly's  before  dark.  If  John  Scott  sets  out  on 
Tuesday  by  noon  to  meet  me,  it  will  do.  I  am  in  health  and 
spirits,  and  impatient  to  embrace  jon.  With  my  love  to  Bet- 
sey, for  a  short  time  I  bid  you  tenderly  adieu  !  " 

It  seems  that  Colonel  Pickering  started  for  home  un- 
accompanied by  a  military  force.  It  ^vas  concluded  by 
the  authorities,  and  was  undoubtedly  his  judgment,  that 
it  was  best  to  show  confidence  in  the  promises  of  good 
behavior  that  had  been  made.  Considering,  however, 
how  deeply  his  wife's  mind  was  impressed  with  the  ap- 
prehension of  danger  at  Wyoming,  he  felt  it  his  duty  to 


316  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

place  her  beyond  it,  and  for  that  reason  had  made  ar- 
rangements in  Phihidelphia  for  her  return  thither  with 
her  sister.  His  idea  was  that  one  of  the  hired  men 
should  accompany  them,  bearing  the  infant  in  his  arms. 
He  expected  to  meet  them  on  the  way,  and  then  himself 
pass  on  to  Wilkesbarre.  Thus  his  family  would  be  re- 
united, and  placed  in  safety  and  tranquillity,  while  he 
attended  to  his  affairs  and  public  duties  at  Wyoming. 
He  did  not  believe  that  any  violence  would  be  offered 
him  ;  but,  if  it  should,  he  preferred  to  meet  it  alone,  and 
without  any  embarrassment  from,  or  exposure  of,  his 
wife  and  family.  The  letters  brought  by  Captain  Schott 
informed  him  of  his  wife's  determination  not  to  leave 
Wilkesbarre.  She  probably  thought  it  impracticable,  or 
at  least  unsafe,  to  transport  the  infant  in  the  manner  he 
proposed,  and  that  the  journey  was  more  than  could 
prudently  be  encountered.  But  her  prevailing  feeling, 
no  doubt,  was  a  determination,  if  he  would  come  back, 
to  share  his  lot.  She  justly  thought  that  he  was  over 
confident  and  confiding,  and  that  her  vigilance  and  cau- 
tion would  be  useful  and  needful.  Hence  her  refusal 
to  carry  out  his  plan  in  this  particular.  On  being  ap- 
prised of  her  determination,  he  hastened  on  to  meet  her 
at  Wyoming. 

Soon  after  the  foregoing  letter  was  written,  John 
Scott  made  his  appearance.  The  import  and  result  of 
the  communications  he  brought  will  be  seen  in  the  follow- 
ing letter.  The  disappointment  to  which  Colonel  Pick- 
ering: found  himself  doomed  was  one  of  the  bitterest  he 
had  ever  experienced.  The  constant  aim  of  his  exertions, 
the  cherished  vision  of  his  life,  was  to  realize  the  happi- 
ness of  a  home.     His  public  employments  had  separated 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  317 

bim  much  from  his  family ;  but  when  be  resolved  upon 
spending  his  days  as  a  farmer,  the  chief  attraction  to 
that  mode  of  life  had  been  that  it  would  give  him  a  quiet 
and  lasting  home.  But  now  his  children  were  scattered, 
and  he  could  not  bring  them  together :  be  was  separated 
from  bis  wife,  forbidden  to  return  to  bis  bouse  and 
lands,  and  left,  as  he  expressed  it,  an  exile.  As  he 
turned  back  alone  to  Philadelphia,  his  heart  was  heavy 
within  him.  But  the  energies  of  his  nature  could  not 
be  broken,  nor  the  elastic  activity  of  his  faculties  long 
impaired.  As  be  could  neither  relieve  bis  wife  of  the 
burdens  and  trials  of  her  situation,  nor  share  them  with 
her  in  personal  presence,  he  did  w^bat  be  could  to  help 
her  to  sustain  and  meet  them  by  advice  and  directions 
embracing  the  minutest  details  :  — 

"Luce's,  at  Tobthanna,  at  break  of  day,  October  23(1,  1787. 

"  My  Dear  Beckey, 
"  This  day  T  should  have  proceeded  to  Wilkesbarre,  but  that 
you  advise  me  not  to  come.  I  am  mortified.  But  Mr.  Bow- 
man has  given  me  sufficient  reasons  to  justify  your  opinion 
that  it  would  be  unsafe.  I  shall,  therefore,  return  to  Phila- 
delphia, and  wait  the  measures  of  govei^nment.  John  Scott, 
doubtless,  has  told  you  of  the  preparations  I  had  made  at 
Bethlehem  to  bring  out  you  and  Betsey.  The  infant  I  in- 
tended William  George  should  have  brought  in  his  arms  till 
I  should  meet  you.  The  new  side-saddle  I  have  retained, 
because  it  will  be  useful  to  you  and  Betsey,  whether  you 
remain  at  Wilkesbarre  or  remove.  And,  my  dear,  as  I  have 
followed  your  advice  in  not  going  in  at  present,  I  trust  you 
will  attend  to  mine,  —  that  you  lose  no  time  in  learning  to  ride 
on  horseback.  I  entreat  you  to  have  the  pacing  horse  sad- 
dled every  fair  day,  and  ride  a  mile  or  two,  if  no  more.  A 
little  daily  practice  will  make  it  easy  to  you.  After  you  can 
sit  steady  in  your  seat,  try  Mr.  Hollenback's  sorrel  mare,  as 
she  trots  easy  ;  for,  otherwise,  should  you  be  obliged  to  mount 


318  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  riCK^RING. 

a  trotting  horse,  you  may  find  it  hard  to  sit  steady.  Pray  let 
no  business  prevent  your  riding  every  fair  day.  Betsey  will 
ride,  of  course,  whenever  it  will  be  convenient  to  lier.  On 
my  return,  I  hope  I  shall  be  at  a  loss  to  determine  which  rides 

best. 

"  You  may  imagine  I  was  surprised  at  the  sight  of  the  chil- 
dren in  Philadelphia!  But,  my  dear,  I  do  not  disapprove  of 
your  sending  them  thither.  I  thought,  indeed,  that  it  might 
not  have  been  necessary.  But  you  consulted  your  feelings^  — 
the  feelings  of  a  mother^ —  and  I  was  satisfied.  On  the  same 
principle,  I  set  out  to  bring  you  down  to  them,  determined 
not  to  consult  your  judgment  or  my  own,  but  merely  your 
feelings  ;  for,  if  these  were  constantly  agitated  and  alarmed, 
I  feared  you  might  lose  your  health.  Sally  told  me  your  dis- 
tresses had  much  lessened  your  ability  to  suckle  the  child.  I 
am  pleased  to  find  you  restored. 

"  The  children  are  distributed  among  our  friends.  Tim  at 
Mr.  Doz's,  and  is  to  go  to  Master  Todd's  school ;  Henry  at 
Captain  Faulkener's,  and  is  to  go  to  his  old  Master's,  Yerkes ; 
Charles's  bright  eyes  please  Nancy  Cunningham,  and  William, 
with  Sally,  is  at  her  mother's.  Captain  Faulkener  went  to 
Mr.  Doz's  of  his  own  accord,  and  pressed  to  take  home  with 
him  tivo  of  the  children.  Mrs.  Hastings  desired  you  might  go 
to  her  house.  I  told  Sally  to  wash  for  all  the  children,  and  to 
be  sure  to  let  William  have  his  portion  of  milk.     One  day 

1  met  Master  Yerkes.  He  asked  kindly  after  the  family,  par- 
ticularly the  children,  adding,  '  I  love  the  children.' 

"  I  send  three  pairs  of  woollen  gloves,  which  I  bought  for 
you,  Betsey,  and  Dolly,  expecting  you  to  ride  with  them. 
Perhaps  they  ma}^  still  be  useful.  I  send,  also,  six  pounds 
of  Bohea  tea,  for  which  I  ran  in  debt  at  Nazareth,  at  three 
shillings  and  sixpence  per  pound.  The  tea  you  can  barter 
for  necessaries. 

"  At  Haller's  I  put  into  the  wagon  the  box  of  sugar  (I 
believe  the  key  of  the  brass  lock  is  with  a  large  bunch  of 
keys  that  used  to  lie  in  the  beaufet),  the  barrels  Nos.  1  and 

2  (as  I  suppose),  the  two  baskets  of  crockery,  &c.,  in  one  of 
which  I  saw  the  spout  of  a  coffee-pot,  a  hair-powder  box, 
containing,  as  I  suppose,  ironmongery,  and  among  it,  perhaps, 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  riCKERING.  319 

some  of  the  bed-screws.  The  large  brass  kettle,  in  the  tub, 
I  put  into  the  Bethlehem  stage  at  Philadelphia,  intending  to 
forward  it  from  Bethlehem  to  Haller's  in  my  own  wagon, 
whenever  it  should  return,  and  it  is  now  in  the  wagon.  At 
Learn's  I  got  a  pailful  of  apples  for  you  and  Betsey. 

"  The  books,  I  find,  were  buried  under  the  office  floor.  I 
hinted  this  measure  to  Esquire  Gore ;  but  it  won't  do.  Let 
them  be  taken  up,  or  they  will  all  be  ruined.  Let  them  be 
taken  out,  and  wiped,  and  set  singly  on  the  office  tables  and 
benches  till  they  are  perfectly  dry.  Then  they  may  be  again 
packed  ;  and,  if  you  think  proper,  they  may  be  put  in  handy 
packages,  with  newspapers,  and,  well  tied  with  twine,  be  dis- 
tributed among  the  honest  neighbors.  Probably  the  widow 
Stewart  would  receive  some  of  them,  and  of  our  other  effects. 
I  mentioned  handy  packages,  because  in  small  parcels  our 
effects  may  be  concealed  by  the  neighbors.  Each  package 
may  be  numbered  and  invoiced. 

"  Let  Betsey  look  over  all  the  papers  and  books  that  were 
in  the  small  sea-chest  and  medicine  box ;  and  let  all  the 
books  of  accounts,  and  the  papers  of  accounts,  receipts,  &c., 
be  selected,  and  some  means  determined  on  for  their  certain 
preservation.  Among  these  also  preserve  the  book,  marked 
on  one  cover,  Invoice  of  Books,  in  which  also  are  lists  of  our 
goods.  The  red-covered  pocket-books  contain  almost  all  the 
accounts  with  the  people  for  what  I  have  trusted  them.  But 
there  is  Mr.  Ochmigh's  account,  among  my  papers,  of  salt, 
&c.,  delivered  by  him.  All  these  valuable  papers  had  best  be 
sent  out,  if  danger  should  be  apprehended.  My  portmanteau 
would  hold  them  all,  and  John  Scott,  or  other  trusty  hand 
(and  perhaps  another  might  be  best,  as  he  is  so  well  known), 
might  be  sent  out  on  purpose,  whenever  you  should  think 
best.  Perhaps  it  may  be  advisable  to  pack  in  paper,  and 
send  up  these  valuable  account-books  and  papers,  and  lodge 
them  with  Mr.  Mann,  or  other  honest,  unsuspecting  person, 
to  be  locked  up  in  the  bottom  of  some  of  their  chests. 

"  As  the  Indian-corn  is  ripe,  let  enough  be  ground,  from 
time  to  time,  to  make  mush  everv  nio^ht,  or  with,  once  or 
twice  a  week,  rye  mush,  or  roasted  or  boiled  potatoes,  by  way 
of  change.    Spare  meat  and  fish  as  much  as  possible.    If  one  or 


320  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

two  of  the  best  of  the  shotes  were  put  up  in  a  pen,  they 
could  be  fattened  with  corn  and  slops,  to  be  fit  to  kill.  Part 
with  no  more  molasses.  I  believe  it  will  be  best  to  give  tea 
oftener  to  the  workmen ;  and,  to  make  it  more  palatable,  get 
half  a  dozeil  cheap  cups  and  saucers  of  Hollenback.  I  send 
you  a  dozen  small  pewter  table-spoons,  for  which  also  I  ran 
in  debt  at  Nazareth.  Will  not  tea  also  take  less  sugar  than 
chocolate,  if  the  tea  is  not  made  too  strong  ?  As  the  children 
are  gone,  more  milk  may  be  spared  to  the  workmen ;  but  do 
not  deny  yourself  cream.  The  skimmed  milk  may  be  mixed 
with  the  new  milk  for  the  men ;  'tis  done  generally  in  this 
State.  When  the  cows  go  on  the  flats  they  will  give  a  flush 
of  milk. 

"  I  would  have  oats  got  of  people  who  owe  me,  or  purchased, 
to  keep  the  horses  in  order,  or  rather  to  get  them  so.  For  what 
you  find  it  necessary  to  buy,  I  will  take  care  to  make  satis- 
factory payment ;  only  engage  as  little  cash  as  possible. 

"  I  think  of  nothing  more  at  present, —  unless  you  were  to 
have  an  invoice  taken  of  such  goods  as  remain  in  the  corn 
barn  and  store-room,  that,  in  case  of  plunder,  I  may  know 
what  is  lost. 

'^  I  am  sorry  that  my  watch  has  disappeared.  I  took  it  out 
to  seal  the  letter  in  which  I  enclosed  the  intercepted  letters, 
which,  you  remember,  I  meant  to  send  off  to  council  just 
before  I  left  you,  and  I  must  have  laid  it  down,  and  left  it  on 
the  trunk.  I  soon  missed  it  after  I  left  the  house,  and  con- 
stantly called  on  Evans  to  know  the  hour,  as  he  had  his 
watch  with  him.  There  is  a  possibility  that  it  might  be 
pulled  out  of  my  fob  by  the  bushes,  but  it  is  improbable. 
The  great-coat  I  hope  you  will  find. 

*'  I  hoped  to  have  seen  and  kissed  Betsey  to-night,  as  well 
as  you  :  I  embrace  her  in  my  heart.  I  wish  I  could  pay  up 
all  arrears  as  easy  and  with  as  much  pleasure  as  I  shall  pay 
hers  when  we  meet,  and  again  dwell  together. 

"  Adieu  !  my  dear  Beckey,  and  kiss  for  me  your  infant. 
Adieu,  my  dear  sister  Betsey.  Heaven  guard  your  lives  and 
health,  and  grant  us  soon  a  joyful  meeting  ! 

"T.    PiCKERTKG. 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  321 

"  P.  S.  jNIy  respects  to  ^Ir.  Bowman.  I  thank  him  for 
his  letter,  but  have  no  time  or  means  to  answer  it." 

"  At  IIaller's  Ta^erx,  Tuesday  evening,  October  23d,  1787. 

"  My  Dear  Beckey, 

"  Thus  far  I  am  on  my  return  to  Philadelphia.  John 
Scott  with  Geori^e  left  me  at  Luce's  this  morning,  and  by  to- 
morrow noon  I  expect  they  will  reach  Wilkesbarre  with  the 
wagon.  Besides  the  articles  mentioned  in  mine,  of  this 
morning,  I  put  into  the  wagon  five  kitchen  chairs,  and  a 
pair  of  kitchen  andirons,  that  were  not  packed  with  any  thing 
else  at  Haller's.  Besides  the  new  side-saddle,  there  are  in  the 
wagon  two  new  l)ridles,  one  for  you  and  one  for  Betsey  : 
keep  them  for  your  use  alone,  and  let  them  be  carried  into 
the  store-room,  ever}^  time  after  using  them,  and  he  careful 
not  to  let  the  bits  grow  rusty.  I  observed  a  flour  barrel  at 
Haller's  with  the  head  knocked  in,  which  exposed  to  view 
two  small  pewter  dishes  ;  these  I  took  out  and  have  sent  on. 
I  put  them  in  the  large  brass  kettle.  I  recollect  no  other 
article  except  two  taps  and  faucets,  wrapped  in  brown  paper, 
and  which  are  in  the  wagon  box. 

"  I  have  enclosed  a  few  additional  directions  which,  when 
you  here  read,  hand  to  John  Scott. 

''  I  had  intended  to  have  sent  in  the  wagon  the  small  bed- 
stead for  Betsey,  that  she  might  no  longer  sleep  on  the  floor ; 
but  when  I  fixed  the  wagon  here  on  Sunday  morning,  it 
took  up  so  much  time,  that  I  loaded  in  a  hurry,  and  forgot 
the  bedstead,  it  not  coming  in  sight ;  and  now  Haller  tells 
me  there  is  no  bedstead  here,  and  that  both  were  formerly 
sent  on  ;  if  so,  the  small  bedstead  is  lost. 

''  With  constant  affection  I  remain,  my  dear  Beckey,  ever 
yours, 

"T.  Pickering." 

These  letters  illustrate  what  has  been  particularly 
mentioned,  and  it  is  designed  to  keep  in  view  in  this 
biography,  a  trait  in  Colonel  Pickering's  character,  most 
marked  in  all  the  periods  of  his  life,  a  faithful,  constant, 
and    earnest    care   for  the   welfare  and   comfort   of   his 

Vol.  II.  21 


322  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICZiERING. 

family,  providing  for  their  daily  wants,  directing  the 
manafromont  of  the  household,  and  extending?  advice  to 
the  minutest  and  most  ordinary  matters.,  No  distance, 
no  elevation  of  official  position,  no  weight  of  public 
affairs,  was  ever  allowed  to  prevent  or  interrupt  the  dis- 
charge of  this,  felt  by  him  to  be  his  highest  duty,  most 
sacred  and  most  honorable  trust.  The  circumstances  in 
which  he  was  placed  required  the  utmost  diligence,  fru- 
gality, and  anxious  labor  on  his  part  in  all  the  stages 
of  his  Wyoming  experience.  It  is  thought  that  this 
could  not,  in  any  way,  be  so  effectually  or  satisfactorily 
presented  as  in  the  documents  that  have  been  adduced. 
The  memoirs  of  no  one  anions:  the  eminent  men  of  our 
country  lead  through  such  scenes  as  occurred  during 
Colonel  Pickering's  residence  on  the  then  frontiers  of. 
Pennsylvania.  His  toils,  adventures,  trials,  and  sufferings 
were  without  a  parallel,  as  will  still  more  strikingly 
appear  in  a  subsequent  chapter.  The  present  one  may 
be  brought  to  a  close  by  the  following  letter,  written  a 
week  or  two  after  his  return  to  Philadelphia,  and  dated 
from  that  place.  It  gives  a  summary  of  the  events  just 
related,  and  discloses  his  views  and  feelings  in  reference 
to  the  caTises  and  influences  that  led  to  them. 

"  November  17th,  1787. 

"Dear  Brother, 
"  You  will  have  heard  of  the  disturbances  at  Wyoming, 
whither  I  had  moved  my  family.  I  have  forborne  to  write 
particular!}-,  because  I  could  write  nothing  favorably.  How- 
ever, the  prospect  is  now  changed  ;  and  I  expect  peace  will 
be  shortly  fully  established  in  that  country.  The  govern- 
ment of  Pennsylvania  appears  disposed  to  do  every  thing  req- 
uisite for  that  end.  The  troubles  originated  with  a  few 
villains  of  some  ability,  but  chiefly  of  desperate  fortunes, 
who  had  formed  a  plan  to  erect  a  new  State  in  that  and  the 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  323 

adjacent  country  of  New  York  ;  and  taking  advantage  of  the 
disaffection  of  a  nnmber  of  the  Connecticut  settlers  at  Wyom- 
ing, whose  prejudices  and  resentments  against  Pennsylvania 
had  been  coeval  with  their  settlement  in  this  State,  had  really 
drawn  into  the  plot  a  considerable  number  of  men.  But  the 
capture  of  John  Franklin,  who  was  their  leader  to  execute  the 
plot,  has  disconcerted  all  their  measures.  The  State  have 
ordered  in  some  militia  for  the  present,  and  a  bill  has  had  two 
readings  to  authorize  the  Council  to  raise  and  post  there  a 
permanent  military  force.  This  will  overawe  the  insurgents 
(who  are  all  dispersed),  and  effectually  establish  the  authority 
of  the  State  and  peace  of  the  county,  I  trust,  without  blood- 
shed. The  principal  conspirators  lived  in  the  States  of  Con- 
necticat  and  Xew  York.  Their  plot  was  so  far  advanced  that 
a  Connecticut  lawyer  had  actually  drawn  up  a  Constitution  for 
their  intended  new  State,  which  was  to  be  called  Westmore- 
land^ the  name  of  the  Wyoming  district  when  a  county 
under  the  Connecticut  jurisdiction.  The  pretence  of  the 
conspirators,  who  were  members  of  the  Susquehanna  Com- 
pany, by  which  they  deluded  the  people,  was,  that  this  com- 
pany, having  made  a  fair  purchase  of  the  Indians  of  the  soil, 
they  had  still  a  right  to  hold  it,  and  that  no  act  of  Pennsylva- 
nia and  Connecticut  could  divest  them  of  it.  The  fact  is  that 
the  whole  country  in  dispute  lies  within  the  bounds  of  the 
Pennsylvania  charter.  Connecticut  claimed  a  right  to  it,  as 
falling  within  her  charter,  extending  it,  according  to  the 
words  of  it,  to  the  South  Sea.  This  dispute  was  referred  by 
the  two  States  (agreeably  to  the  Articles  of  Confederation)  to 
a  Continental  Court,  the  members  of  which  were  mutually 
agfreed  on  bv  the  two  States.  This  court  sat  at  Trenton  in 
December,  1782 ;  and,  after  a  hearing  of  counsel  on  both 
sides  during  many  days,  they  decreed,  unanimously,  that  both 
the  soil  and  jurisdiction  belong  to  Pennsylvania.  This 
gave  a  terrible  shock  to  the  Susquehanna  Company,  and  their 
settlers  at  Wyoming ;  and,  if  Pennsylvania  had  then  mani- 
fested any  degree  of  generosity  or  magnanimity,  —  if  she  had, 
indeed,  consulted  merely  her  own  interest,  —  she  would  have 
quieted  the  settlers  in  their  old  possessions,  which  they  had 


324  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   nCFsERING. 

derived  l)y  titles,  wliieli  they  supposed  to  be  good,  from  the 
Susquehanna  Company.  Rut,  instead  of  this,  the  conduct  of 
the  State  has  consisted  of  a  series  of  impolitic  measures,  some- 
times lenient,  sometimes  severe,  and,  through  the  abuse  of 
])ower  by  the  persons  appointed  to  execute  the  orders  of  the 
State,  sometimes  cruel  and  oppressive.  These  circumstances, 
together  with  the  discontents  generally  prevailing  throughout 
the  United  States,  the  rebellion  in  Massachusetts,  and  the  pros- 
pect of  an  entire  dissolution  of  the  Federal  Union,  have  en- 
couraged the  villains,  before  referred  to,  to  form  and  prepare 
to  execute  their  wicked  plot  before  mentioned. 

''  I  have  just  heard  from  my  wife  at  Wyoming.  She  is 
very  well.  She  expresses  much  solicitude  to  hear  from  her 
son  John.  Tim,  Henry,  Charles,  and  William,  are  with  our 
friends  in  this  city.  The  infant,  Edward  (born  the  12th  of 
September),  is  with  my  wife  at  W^^oming.  Her  sister,  also, 
is  with  her.  A  Mr.  Bowman,  a  lawyer  and  a  very  clever 
man,  is  in  my  family,  and  has  remained  at  Wyoming  during 
all  the  disturbances.  He  was  educated  at  Cambridge,  and  is 
known,  I  believe,  to  Samuel  and  Timothy  Williams.  He 
attends  the  business  of  my  office  during  my  absence. 

"  The  sheriff  of  Luzerne  has  brought  down  the  return  of 
the  election  of  a  member  to  sit  in  the  Convention  of  this 
State,  for  considering  of  the  Federal  Constitution.  I  am 
chosen.  The  Convention  is  to  meet  the  20th  instant.  This  will 
keep  me  here  a  few  weeks.  I  wish  to  hear  from  you  and  my 
friends  before  I  go  up  to  Wyoming ;  or,  if  you  address  a 
letter  to  Mr.  Hodgdon's  care,  he  will  forward  it,  if  I  should 
be  gone.  Should  it  be  perfectly  convenient  to  you,  I  shall 
be  obliged  by  a  remittance  of  any  sum  of  money,  more  or  less, 
as  you  can  spare  it.  This  also  may  be  directed  to  Mr.  Hodg- 
don's care.  After  I  return  to  Wyoming,  I  shall  embrace  an 
early  opportunity  to  make,  and  forward  to  you,  a  deed  of  the 
land  vou  proposed  to  take  of  me.  Your  letters  on  the  subject 
are  there,  the  particulars  of  which  I  do  not  fully  recollect. 

"  Give  my  love  to  my  son,  and  persuade  him  to  write  a 
short  letter  to  his  mamma  or  me. 

"  I  will  write  Mr.  Williams,  if  I  have  time.     This  I  expect 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  325 

to  send  by  John  Blanchard,  biother  to  our  cousin ;   and  I 
must  go  to  him  immediately,  lest  he  should  be  gone. 

'*  I  bid  you,  dear  brother,  a  most  affectionate  adieu,  and 
pray  you  to  present  my  kind  love  to  all  my  sisters  and  their 
children,  whom  I  remember  with  tenderness ;  and  Mr.  Wil- 
liams, Mr.  Gardner,  and  Mr.  Dodge  are  not  forgotten. 

"  T.   PiCKEBING. 
"John  Pickeeixg,  Esq." 


326  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  riCKERINQ. 


CHAPTER   X. 

Colonel  Pickering  in  Pliilaclelphia.  —  An  Exile  from  Wyoming.  — 
Member  of  the  Convention  of  Pennsylvania,  to  act  upon  the 
proposed  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

1787. 

Colonel  Pickering  reached  Philadelphia  on  the  25th 
of  October,  as  appears  by  the  following  letter  to  his 
wife  :  — 

"  Philadelphia,  October  27th,  1787. 

"  My  Dear  Beckey, 

"  Besides  the  letter  I  wrote  from  Luce's,  by  John  Scott, 
I  again  addressed  you  from  Haller's.  I  am  now  happy  in  the 
opportunity  which  presents  of  writing  you  by  Doctor  Smith. 
Making  easy  journeys,  I  did  not  arrive  here  till  Thursday 
evening,  just  before  dusk.  The  same  evening  I  went  to  see 
all  the  children,  and  found  them  very  well.  I  wrote  you 
that  William  was  with  Sally,  at  her  mother's,  and  I  find  he 
pleases  everybody  that  sees  him.  Mr.  Doz's  family.  Captain 
Faulkener's,  and  Mr.  Donnel's,  are  contending  '  which  has  the 
best  boy.'  Tim,  you  will  remember,  is  at  Mr.  Doz's,  Henry 
at  Captain  Faulkener's,  Charles  at  Captain  Donnel's.  These 
good  families  are  severally  delighted  with  their  charge.  Yes- 
terday afternoon  Nancy  Cunningham  and  Charles  came  to 
Mr.  Doz's;  and  I  led  down  Henry,  and  Sally  brought  Wil- 
liam, that  they  might  all  see  one  another.  It  Avas  the  first 
general  interview  since  their  arrival,  and  they  were  much 
uleased  with  it.  Tim  had  before  been  to  see  Charles,  and 
(says  Donnel)  '  it  was  a  pleasure  to  see  them,  at  meeting, 
embrace  and  kiss  each  other.'  I  have  given  you  this  detail, 
because  I  know  it  will  give  at  least  as  much  pleasure  to  the 
mother  as  it  does  to  the  father ;  and  their  aunt  will  not  be 
unaffected  with  so  pleasing  an  account. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  327 

''  Colonel  Denison  has  made  his  report  to  Council,  and 
to-day  I  was  sent  for,  with  Doctor  Smith.  The  Doctor  gave 
a  particular  history  of  the  transactions  in  the  settlement, 
from  the  time  that  Franklin  was  taken.  I  read  Mr.  Bow- 
man's letters,  Esquire  Gore's,  and  some  jyaragraphs  of  yours. 
Upon  the  whole,  I  gave  my  opinion  of  the  measures  absolutely 
necessary  for  government  to  take  to  ensure  the  execution 
of  the  laws.  I  trust  such  measures  will  Vje  pursued  ;  and  I 
hope  icithiii  a  reasonable  time  ;  for,  on  every  account,  public 
and  private,  I  am  impatient  to  return. 

'^  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  Dr.  Hamilton  has 
been  taken  with  a  budget  of  letters  and  papers,  showing  his 
own  and  Franklin's  treasonable  practices.  Hamilton,  you 
perhaps  know,  wrote  three  of  the  letters  which  were  taken 
with  Starkweather,  and  has  ])een  Franklin's  principal  corre- 
spondent in  York  State. 

''  Quiet  having  been  restored  to  the  county  of  Luzerne  by 
the  voluntary  dispersion  of  Franklin's  adherents,  the  Council 
have  ordered  his  irons  to  be  knocked  off,  but  he  is  kept  closely 
confined. 

"T  am  informed  that  there  is  a   decided  maioritv  in  the 


Council  and  Assembly  of  Republicans  and  Federal  men, 
which  promises  good  to  the  Continent,  to  the  State,  and  to 
the  county  of  Luzerne  ;  for  the  best  good  that  can  happen 
to  all  is  a  vigorous,  effective,  yet  safe  Republican  government. 
I  earnestly  hope  that  a  good  man,  of  Federal  principles,  may 
be  sent  to  the  State  Convention  from  Luzerne.  I  wish  this 
mav  be  Mr.  Bowman. 

'••  I  feel  sano^uine  that  I  shall  soon  return  to  vou,  and  that 
we  shall  enjoy  a  quiet  winter  ;  which  I  trust  will  be  less 
dismal  than  Betsey  predicts.  I  shall  use  my  endeavors  to 
render  it  as  pleasing  as  possible  to  both  of  you. 

"  Do  not  forget  the  injunctions,  in  my  two  last  letters,  of 
riding  on  liorseback  every  good  day.  It  will  better  or  con- 
firm your  healtli,  and  teach  you  to  ride,  which  will  be  indis- 
pensably necessary  in  the  country.  But  remember  always  that 
the  saddle-giiths  are  buckled  tight  and  your  stirrups  secure. 

''  The  package,  containing  coarse  cloths  and  trimmings,  was 
sent  off"  last  week  for  Middletown,  to  Mr.  Fry,  and  he  was 


o 


28  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 


desired  to  forward  it  in  a  boat  to  Wyoming.  I  suppose  it 
may  come  np  with  ^Ir.  Hollenback's.  William  George  and 
George  can  have  the  necessary  clothes  made  when  the  pack- 
age arrives.  If  they  want  before  that  time,  perhaps  you  can 
make  shift  with  some  of  my  old  clothes. 

"  Mrs.  Doz  and  Mrs.  Flowers  desire  their  warmest  love  to 
you  and  Betsey,  — mine  you  have  constantly.    God  bless  you 

both. 

''T.  Pickering. 

"P.  S.  Captain  Hodgdon  has  received  a  present  of  or- 
anges from  the  West  Indies,  and  sent  three  dozen  to  Mrs. 
Flowers,  for  herself  and  our  children.  He  has  given  me  a 
dozen  to  send  to  you  and  Betsey,  which  I  shall  give  to  Doc- 
tor Smith,  if  he  can  carry  them." 

The  folio wiiii^  letters  from  Colonel  Pickerinof  to  his 
wife  continue  the  narrative  of  his  personal  experience, 
family  affairs,  operations  on  his  buildings  and  farm, 
and  public  labors,  while  remaining  in  enforced  sepa- 
ration from  his  home. 

"Philadelphia,  November  15th,  1787. 

"  The  few  weeks  I  have  been  from  you  seem  like  an  age. 
Soon,  however,  I  expect  to  see  you.  Some  troops  are  ready 
to  march,  and  will  arrive  with,  or  immediately  after.  Colonel 
Denison,  who  is  the  bearer  of  this.  The  Assembly  also  are 
likely,  in  a  few  days,  to  agree  in  a  law  to  enable  the  com- 
missioners to  proceed  in  the  examination  of  the  Connecticut 
claims,  as  w^ell  as  to  enable  the  Council  to  raise  and  establish 
a  permanent  military  force,  to  ensure  the  future  peace  of  the 
county  of  Luzerne.  I  was  sadly  disapj^ointed  that  I  could 
not  proceed  to  Wilkesbarre  when  I  was  last  at  Luce's.  Prob- 
ably, however,  it  was  fortunate  that  I  could  not ;  for  the 
Assembly  was  so  irritated  with  the  conduct  of  the  people  in 
that  county  that  they  were  disposed  to  repeal  or  suspend  the 
law  for  confirming  the  Connecticut  titles.  Six  in  seven  of 
a  committee  agreed  to  report  to  the  House  a  resolution  for 
suspending  the  law ;  and  it  has  been  wdth  no  small  difficulty 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  329 

that  they  have  been  mduced  to  adopt  different  sentiments. 
At  length,  however,  the  committee  appear  unanimous  in 
favor  of  a  law  to  prolong  the  time  for  examining  the  claims, 
and  I  expect  the  House  will  concur.  I  wish  to  see  the  event 
of  the  measure  before  I  leave  town. 

''  With  the  utmost  impatience  I  have  been  expecting  a 
letter  from  you  ;  but  I  know  not  of  any  body's  arrival  since 
George  came  to  town.  As  he  brought  no  letter,  I  suppose 
he  came  away  without  leave.  I  have  told  him  to  find  a 
master,  but  he  has  not  yet  succeeded. 

''  The  children  are  all  very  well.  On  the  kind  invitation 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peters,  Tim  is  gone  to  Belmont,  to  remain 
there,  and  go  to  school  with  their  boys.  I  went  over  with 
Tim.  The  boys  and  he  were  mutually  rejoiced  at  meeting, 
and  the  idea  of  Tim's  remaining  there.  Captain  Faulkener 
desires  me  to  be  perfectly  easy  about  Henry  during  the  winter. 
He  and  his  wife  and  Mrs.  Lyon  are  fond  .of  him  ;  and  their  new 
maid  is  extravagantly  so,  and  Harry  of  her.  Charles,  being  now 
well  acquainted  at  Captain  Donnel's,  begins  to  be  troublesome, 
and,  when  crossed  in  his  wishes,  thi-eatens  them  that  he  will  go 
back  to  Wyoming.  I  never  knew  Charles  so  fat  and  hearty. 
William  has  had  sore  eyes,  but  they  are  nearly  well.  He  is 
yet  with  Sally,  at  her  mother's.  I  have  thought  of  putting 
him  and  Charles  to  board  with  our  old  milk-woman.  She  con- 
sents to  take  them.  I  went  to  the  house.  'Tis  Toomy  and 
clever,  and  her  own  children  looked  clean.  I  am  not  deter- 
mined whether  to  place  Sally  there  with  them,  or  to  let  her 
seek  a  service,  as  she  has  expressed  a  disinclination  to  return 
to  Wyoming ;  though  when  I  last  spoke  to  her  she  seemed 
rather  willino^  to  o-o  back. 

''  To-day  it  begins  to  rain  for  the  first  time  (save  a  small 
sprinkling)  since  I  left  you.  I  think  the  springs  must  now  be 
very  low,  and  if  so  it  will  be  best  for  Doctor  Sprague  to  finish 
digging  the  well  and  stone  it  up.  I  wish  you  could  get  Mr. 
Hullenback's  and  Mr.  Carey's  advice  on  the  subject ;  and  if 
they  approve  let  the  Doctor  proceed  forthwith  to  complete  it. 
Enjoin  it  upon  him  to  dig  as  low  as  possible,  and  stone  it  well. 
I  suppose  there  can  be  nothing  for  Dean  to  do,  and  therefore 
it  will  be  best  to  discharge  him,  if  he  is  not  already  discharged. 


330  I^It'K   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKEKING. 

I  am  Mad  to  find  William  Georg-e  so  faithful.  I  wish  him  not 
to  come  down  until  I  return.  I  shall  bring  or  send  up  his 
tools.  His  wife  I  have  provided  for  ;  she  is  now  comfortably 
furnished  with  clothes,  with  every  article  she  requested,  and 
j\Ir.  Forbes  has  agreed  to  board  her  at  five  shillings  a  week. 
So  William  may  be  easy  on  that  score." 

"  Philadelphia,  November  17th,  1787. 

"  I  have  received  your  welcome  favor  by  William  George. 
I  am  hajipy  to  hear  that  you  and  Betsey  are  in  health  and 
spirits.  Enclosed  is  a  paper  of  directions  about  the  chimney 
of  the  house.  If  the  masons  are  not  gone  up  the  river,  let  it 
be  carried  up  without  delay.  Perhaps  what  I  have  said  about 
the  arch  may  not  be  very  clear.  My  meaning  is  that,  when 
it  is  built,  one  open  end  of  it  will  be  towards  the  street,  and 
the  other  towards  the  well.  I  wish  John  Scott  to  attend  to  the 
carrying  up  the  chimney ;  and  perhaps  he  and  Veal  can  do 
the  whole  of  it ;  but  I  leave  it  to  be  determined  on  the  spot. 
Let  John  particularly  see  that  the  mortar  is  faithfully  made, 
the  bricks  laid  true,  and  let  the  joints  be  all  well  filled  with 
mortar.  Let  the  inside  of  every  flue  be  plastered  with  the 
clay  mortar  as  smooth  as  possible.  I  hope  the  lime  can  be 
got  up  in  time,  at  least  before  the  chimney  gets  through  the 
roof.  Let  the  carpenters  cover  over  the  hole  in  the  roof,  left 
for  the  chimney,  that  the  rain  may  not  come  through,  while 
the  chimney  is  carrying  up.  If  the  weather  should  be  so 
cold,  any  night,  as  to  freeze  the  mortar  in  the  chimney,  let 
the  Avork  of  the  preceding  day  be  covered  with  boards  or 
somethinf^  else. 

''  I  will  supply  all  your  wants  as  quick  as  possible.  William 
talks  of  returning  on  Monday  or  Tuesday  next.  By  him  I 
shall  write  you  again.  When  the  Convention  is  over,  I  hope 
I  may  return  to  you  in  safety.  The  boys  are  all  well,  I  have 
not  heard  from  John.  With  my  tender  love  to  Betsey,  I  re- 
main, my  dear  Beckey,  ever  yours. 

"P.  S.  The  plastering  inside  the  chimney  should  not  be 
laid  on  too  thick.     The  thicker  the  more  likely  to  fall  off." 

These  and  other  letters  contain  drawings  or  diagrams, 
roughly  but  plainly  made  by  the  pen,  representing  the 


LIFE   OF    TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  331 

positions  of  the  bouse,  the  office,  the  well  and  oven,  in 
relation  to  the  street  or  road  in  front  of  the  house,  and 
to  each  other,  giving  the  plan  of  the  rooms  on  each  floor 
of  the  house,  the  chimney  and  its  flues,  and  stating  the 
dimensions  of  them,  severallv,  in  feet  and  inches. 

As  has  been  before  remarked.  Colonel  Pickering  pos- 
sessed an  extraordinary  capacity  for  labor,  physical  and 
mental.  It  was  not,  at  any  stage  of  his  life,  more  put 
to  the  test  than  durinsr  these  few  months  of  his  enforced 
residence  in  Philadelphia.  His  engagements  and  oc- 
cupations, in  reference  to  personal  and  private  matters 
were  multifarious,  —  purchasing  innumerable  articles, 
for  the  house  and  farm,  and  arranging  for  their  trans- 
portation ;  visiting  his  dispersed  children  ;  communicat- 
ins:  with  those  who  had  kindly  assumed  the  care  of  some 
of  them,  and  looking  out  for  the  fidelity  of  persons  hired 
to  provide  for  the  comfort  of  the  others  ;  giving  direc- 
tions to  servants  going  and  coming  between  Philadelphia 
and  Wyoming ;  writiu":  frequent  and  long  letters  to  his 
wife,  parts  of  which  have  now  been  presented,  embrac- 
ing: such  exact  and  minute  details  of  advice  and  sujj'i'es- 
tion,  as  were  evidently  the  result  of  much  thought  and 
deliberation  ;  negotiating  with  his  brother  in  Salem  for  the 
sale  of  what  remained  of  his  patrimony  ;  settling  outstand- 
ing accounts  connected  with  his  mercantile  operations  ; 
raising  the  means  of  meeting  the  unexpected  expenses 
into  which  his  Wyoming  affairs  and  experiences  had 
drawn  him  ;  giving  information  in  all  directions,  in 
answer  to  correspondents,  as  to  matters  growing  out  of 
the  business  of  the  Quartermaster's  department  in  the 
Revolutionary  war ;  executing  commissions  for  neigh- 
bors at  Wyoming ;    and,  in    compliance    with    solicita- 


332  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY    PirKERING. 

tions  of  personal  friends,  conimiuiicuting  in  writing  and 
iit  length  his  views  on  agricultural,  educational,  and  po- 
litical subjects.  His  public  cares  and  duties,  at  this  time, 
were  of  the  gravest  and  most  important  kind.  For  many 
weeks  he  was  constantly  in  his  seat,  as  a  member  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Convention,  to  consider  and  determine  for 
that  State  on  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  He 
bore  his  part  in  the  momentous  discussions.  All  who 
knew  him  are  sure  that,  in  private  debates,  his  great  con- 
versational powers  were  effectually  exerted  in  promotion 
of  the  grand  result. 

But  the  object  for  which  his  labors  were  most  un- 
wearied, was  to  prevail  upon  the  government  of  Penn- 
sylvania to  adopt  a  decisive,  wise,  and  steady  policy,  as 
to  the  condition  and  welfare  of  his  own  immediate  con- 
stituency, the  people  of  Luzerne  county.  For  this  end 
he  argued  before  committees  of  the  Assembly  and  Coun- 
cil, and  used  all  possible  and  legitimate  efforts  in  con- 
ferences with  leading  men. 

The  government  of  the  State  was  much  embarrassed 
in  dealing  with  the  affairs  of  Wyoming.  Its  proceed- 
ings were  strangely  inconstant  and  dilatory.  The  ele- 
ments that  operated  to  paralyze  its  deliberations,  and 
baffle  its  measures,  mentioned  in  the  preceding  chapter, 
although  quite  inexplicable  at  the  time,  may  now  be 
brought  to  light,  and  may  be  more  specifically  stated. 
On  the  promulgation  of  the  decree  at  Trenton,  at  the 
close  of  1782,  it  seems  to  have  been  the  sentiment  of 
considerate  and  uninterested  persons  that  a  lenient  course 
was  proper  ;  and  a  law  was  finally  enacted,  quieting  and 
confirming  the  land  titles  of  the  inhabitants  given  by 
Connecticut  prior  to   the    decree.      But  intrigues   and 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  333 

movements  were  immediately  commenced  to  procure  its 
repeal.  An  active  and  earnest  party, — consisting  of  those 
capitalists  and  speculators,  who,  in  one  of  tl\e  intervals 
of  the  long  contest  when  the  Connecticut  settlers  had 
heen  driven  off  by  Pennsylvania,  had  purchased  the 
lands  from  that  State  ;  or  who  had  bought,  long  before, 
of  the  Penns.  —  of  course  would  never  rest  until  the  Con- 
necticut titles,  originally  conveying  them  to  others,  were 
wholly  repudiated.  Although  small  in  number,  this 
party  was  indefatigable  in  its  efforts  to  have  the  law 
confirming  the  Connecticut  titles  repealed.  Penns-Nl- 
vania,  through  the  original  proprietary  family,  or  subse- 
quently, had  sold  to  them  the  lands  ;  and  they  demanded 
that  the  government  should  restore  them,  and  make  its 
own  act  good.  They  stood  upon  the  plighted  faith  of 
their  own  State.  It  was  the  apprehension  that  these 
men  would  succeed  in  their  efforts,  that  raised  and  kept 
alive  the  insurrectionary  spirit  in  Wyoming  ;  and  it  was 
not  to  be  que  stioned  that,  rather  than  relinquish  their 
estates,  the  Connecticut  settlers  would  rush  into  rebellion. 

This  state  of  things  brought  and  kept  in  operation, 
from  another  quarter,  a  powerful  influence  in  aid  of 
those  urging  the  repeal  of  the  confirming  law  ;  proceed- 
ing from  persons  in  Connecticut,  Xew  York,  and  else- 
where, whose  schemes  of  speculation  and  ambitious 
aspirations  led  them  to  long  for  the  separation  of  the 
Wyoming  territory  into  an  independent  State,  which 
could  only  be  accomplished  by  a  successful  rebellion 
against  Pennsylvania. 

These  two  parties,  the  one  inside,  the  other  outside,  of 
the  State ;  the  one  open  and  bold,  the  other  concealed 
and  cunning, —  had  combined  in  trying  to  prevent  the  pas- 


334  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

sage,  in  any  form,  of  a  confirming  law,  and  were  now 
doing  their  utmost  to  have  it  repealed.  They  each 
eagerly  sought  to  inflame  the  resentment  of  the  people 
and  government  of  Pennsylvania  against  the  old  settlers 
of  Wvomin":  for  their  insubordinate  and  insurrectionarv 
proceedings,  particularly  the  mob  violence  that  had 
compelled  the  commissioners  to  seek  safety  in  flight 
from  the  territory.  They  so  far  succeeded  as  to  prevent 
either  conciliatory  or  effective  measures.  That  part  of 
the  State  was  left  under  uncertain  fortunes,  without 
security  for  property,  and  a  prey  to  internal  convulsions. 
Allowing  things  thus  to  remain,  the  government  of 
Pennsylvania  incurred  just  reproach,  and  inflicted  great 
injury  upon  the  State.  The  beautiful  country  on  the 
upper  branches  of  the  Susquehanna  was  the  point  to 
which  emigration  from  the  eastern  and  other  States  had 
tended;  but  the  tide  was  turned  elsewhere,  to  securer 
although  more  distant  regions,  beyond  the  mountains 
and  above  the  Ohio. 

The  following  letters  from  Colonel  Pickering  to  his  wife 
show  the  course  of  things  in  the  Assembly^  and  bring  us 
back  again,  for  a  while,  from  his  public  to  his  private 
life,  —  to  domestic  interests,  and  the  cares  with  which  he 
was  occupied  for  the  welfare  of  his  home  and  family. 

"  Philadelphia,  November  29th,  1787. 

"  My  Dear  Beckey, 

"  The  Assembly  have  adjourned  to  the  third  Tuesday  in 
February  next,  and  postponed  till  then  the  consideration  of 
the  affairs  of  Wyoming.  I  am  very  sorry,  because  it  keeps 
us  all  in  suspense.  However,  they  were  in  such  ill  humor, 
that  I  think  the  postponement  better  than  a  present  deter- 
mination. I  think,  when  they  meet  again,  they  will  do  what 
is  right.  In  the  mean  time,  it  will  behove  the  people  to  con- 
duct themselves  with  perfect  good  order. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  335 

"  I  detained  William  George,  until. I  should  know  the  fate 
of  the  Lill  before  the  House  about  Wyoming  ;  and  now  Wil- 
liam desires  to  stay  till  Sunday  next.  Captain  Schott  I  ex- 
pect will  set  off  to-moiTow.  Mr.  Hodgdon,  at  my  request, 
has  forwarded  a  barrel  of  sugar,  a  barrel  of  rum,  a  box  of 
chocolate,  and  two  boxes  of  glass  to  Nazareth,  with  sundry 
other  articles,  which  I  would  have  my  wagon  come  out  for 
immediately.  If  George  Crum  can  put  one  or  two  of  his 
horses,  with  two  or  three  of  mine,  to  the  wagon,  and  come 
for  the  goods,  I  should  be  glad.  He  will  meet  William 
George,  who  shall  tui'n  back  (if  he  should  be  beyond  Xaza- 
reth),  and  assist  him.  The  articles  at  Xazareth  will  not 
make  a  load  ;  so  the  wagon  can  take  in  more  at  Haller's ; 
but  it  will  be  best  to  take  (in  the  whole)  but  a  moderate 
load.  I  was  going  to  propose  John  Scott's  going  with  the 
wagon ;  but  you  cannot  spare  him.  The  goods  at  Nazareth 
are  lodged  at  William  Henry's,  to  whom  I  shall  write  by 
William  to  deliver  them. 

"  Tim  is  at  Mr.  Peters's  and  very  happy.  I  have  got  him 
a  new  suit  of  clothes.  Henry  is  at  Captain  Faulkener's,  where 
he  is  much  beloved.  Captain  Faulkener  desired  me  to  make 
myself  easy  about  Harry  for  the  winter.  He  also  has  a  new 
suit.  I  have  sent  Sally,  with  Charles  and  William,  to  our 
milk-woman's  at  three  dollars  a  week  for  all  three.  William's 
eyes  are  sore  ;  otherwise  he  is  very  well.  ,  Charles  is  fatter 
and  apparently  healthier  than  I  ever  knew  him  to  be.  Mrs. 
Donnell  thinks  him  the  handsomest  of  all  the  boys. 

"  Mrs.  HastiniTs  desires  to  Vje  remembered  to  vou  and 
Betsey  ;  so  do  all  your  friends. 

"  Captain  Schott  will  give  you  the  particulars  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Assembly.  I  cannot  tell  when  the  Conven- 
tion will  rise,  but  not  under  ten  days  or  a  fortnight,  as  I 
should  guess.  I  am  impatient  for  Colonel  Denison's  return, 
to  know  the  state  of  Wyoming.  Tender  my  kind  love  to 
Betsey  and  mr  compliments  to  Mr.  Bowman.  With  heart- 
felt affecfion  1  remain,  my  dear  Beckey,  ever  yours. 

P.  S.  I  have  desired  Mr.  Burkett  to  purchase  a  wig  for 
Esquire  Gore:  but  he  has  not  yet  found  one  ready  made; 
and  the  peruke-makers  ask  eight  dollars  to  make  one.'' 


V 

) 

336  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

"Philadelphia,  November  30th,  1787. 

"  Captain  Schott  not  setting  out  this  morning,  I  have  time 
to  write  again,  and  the  means  of  sending  you  some  money.  I 
enclose  three  bank-notes  of  five  dollars  each,  for  which  I  pre- 
sume Mr.  Hollenback  will  give  you  the  cash.  This,  with 
what  else  I  send  by  William  George,  will  enable  you  to  pro- 
cure beef  and  pork  for  the  family.  I  hope  some  of  the  people, 
who  owe  me  grain,  will  bring  it  in.  Doctor  Smith's  son, 
James,  owes  me  twelve  bushels  of  good  merchantable  wheat, 
and  three-fifths  of  a  bushel,  being  sixty-three  shillings,  —  the 
price  of  three  and  a  half  bushels  of  salt,  at  eighteen  shillings  ; 
he  also  had  the  salt  barrel,  which  he  is  to  return  with  the 
wheat.  If  he  has  not  delivered  it,  mention  it  to  the  Doctor, 
and  beg  him  to  send  a  message  to  his  son  to  bring  it.  If 
you  or  Betsey  look  over  my  small-account  l)Ooks,  and  the 
papers  in  Mr.  Ochmigh's  hand-writing,  containing  the  names 
of  the  persons  who  have  had  goods  of  me,  you  will  find  what 
is  due.  Mr.  Hollenback  can  tell  wliere  they  live,  and  John 
Scott  can  go  to  all  that  are  within  ten  miles.  Some  of  them 
should  be  called  on  without  delay,  lest  they  slip  away. 

''  I  believe  I  forgot  to  write  about  my  rails.  John  Scott 
knows  where  they  are.  I  think  thej^  had  better  be  j)iled  one 
above  another  so  high  as  that  we  may  discover  them  above 
the  snow  ;  and  then  they  can  be  hauled,  daring  the  winter, 
wherever  I  choose  to  carry  them.  Wickheyser  and  his  son 
can  pile  them,  if  my  own  help  cannot  be  spared.  It  should 
be  done  before  they  get  covered  with  snow. 

"■  If  my  plough  is  not  already  housed,  let  it  be  done  imme- 
diately. 

''  If  Crum  comes  out  for  the  glass,  &c.,  direct  him  to  shake 
the  boxes  before  he  loads  them,  to  see  if  the  glass  has  got 
loose.  If  it  rattles,  it  ought  to  be  opened  and  repacked. 
John  Scott  can  glaze  the  sashes ;  but  I  wish  him  to  do  it  as 
v»^ell  as  he  can,  so  that  the  putty  may  be  smooth,  and  not  pro- 
ject over  the  glass  beyond  the  wood  of  the  sash. 

"  I  hope  the  partitions  of  the  rooms  are  up,  —  rough  boards 
lapped,  as  it  is  to  be  lathed  and  plastered  upon.  If  Mr.  Hol- 
lenback is  pressing  for  his  house  to  himself,  will  it  be  possible 
for  you  to  live  in  the  office  till  our  own  house  is  habitable  ? 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  337 

Mr.  Bowman,  in  that  case,  can  probably  have  a  bed  in  Mat. 
Hollenback's  house.  I  do  not  expect  the  wash-house  will  be 
built  till  the  spring  ;  therefore,  it  will  be  necessary  to  have  an 
oven  built  in  the  yard,  thirty  or  forty  feet  from  the  house, 
with  the  mouth  of  it  to  the  southward. 

"  A  Mr.  Drake,  of  Kingston,  told  me  last  summer  that  he 
should  have  a  thousand  weight  of  pork  to  sell  this  fall.  You 
can  send  to  him  to  know  his  price.  As  you  will  have  the 
cash,  you  will  be  able  to  get  meat  at  the  lowest  rate.  Lord 
Butler  told  me  that  he  should  have  a  fat  ox  for  sale.  But  the 
beef  for  salting  should  be  the  fattest  that  is  to  be  had.  If 
you  have  a  good  chance  of  buying  beef  or  pork  cheap,  and 
have  not  cash  enough,  I  will  bring  or  send  you  enough  to  ful- 
fil your  engagements. 

''  My  eyes  have  been  somewhat  sore  ;  otherwise  I  never  en- 
joyed better  health.  Mr.  Doz  remains  very  infirm.  His  wife 
and  Mrs.  Flowers  are  well.     I  lodge  at  Mr.  Doz's. 

''  What  bricks  remain  should  be  housed.  I  think  they 
had  best  be  put  in  the  cellar  of  the  new  house.  If  those 
which  are  slack-burnt  remain  in  the  weather,  the  frost  will 
moulder  them  to  pieces.  All  the  boards  and  pieces  of  boards 
should  be  collected  and  piled  up  to  prevent  waste.  All  the 
shingles  should  also  be  regularly  piled. 

"  It  gives  me  pain,  my  dear,  to  trouble  you  with  business 
of  this  kind  ;  but,  if  it  has  not  your  attention,  I  am  afraid  it 
will  be  neglected.  I  hope  you  Avill,  ere  long,  be  relieved  from 
such  burthens,  and  never  have  occasion  to  encounter  so  many 
difficulties  again.  God  grant  that  hereafter  we  may  live  in 
tranquillity,  and  that  our  only  solicitude  will  be,  not  to  throw 
burthens  on  each  other,  but  how.  we  may  best  enjoy  the  boun- 
ties of  Providence. 

"  Charles  has  had  a  great  deal  to  say  about  '  Little  Edward.' 
I  have  even  forgot  his  countenance.  Betsey  ever  has  a  place 
in  my  affectionate  remembrance.  I  long  to  greet  you  both. 
God  preserve  you  ! 

P.  S.  December  5th. — Captain  Schott  went  off  about  fifteen 

minutes  before  I  reached  his  lodging,  which   I  much  regret. 

The  bank-notes  mentioned  in  this  letter  are  in  the  enclosed 

letter.     I  shall,  besides,  give  William  George  two  half  joes 
Vol.  II.  22 


338  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

for  3'our  use,  and  money  for  his  expenses  and  those  of  the 
wagon,  whicli  I  hope  will  meet  him  at  Nazareth. 

"  Captain  Fanlkener  and  wife  and  Mrs.  Lyon  (i-ome  of  the 
best  and  kindest  folks  in  the  world)  send  their  love  to  you 
and  Betsey.  They  are  all  much  pleased  with  Harry,  who 
also  sends  his  love  to  his  mamma  and  aunt." 

The  next  day,  December  6th,  his  man,  William 
George,  not  having  started,  he  wrote  again  to  his  wife, 
directing  her  to  draw  upon  Mr.  Hollenba.ck  for  such 
money  as  she  might  need.     He  says :  — 

"  The  Convention  is  still  sitting,  but,  I  think,  will  rise  next 
week.  I  have  not  yet  determined  about  my  returning.  I 
hope  to  hear  from  you  by  Colonel  Denison. 

*'  Cajitain  Henry  Williams  (George's  brother)  is  here  from 
St.  Eustatia.  He  has  given  me  a  fine  pine-apple  for  you,  which 
William  George  is  to  carry  with  him.  I  have  also  given  Wil- 
liam money  to  buy  three  pounds  of  tea  for  you.  I  intend  to 
get  coffee  and  some  other  articles,  and  forward  to  Nazareth, 
to  go  up  with  the  other  articles  now  there." 

On  the  20th  of  December  he  wrote  as  follows  :  — 

"My  Dear  Beckey, 

"  I  have  waited,  with  the  greatest  impatience,  to  hear  from 
you.  Not  a  syllable  have  I  received  since  the  arrival  of  Lord 
Butler,  now  five  weeks  ago.  This  morning,  Mr.  Avery 
called  at  Mr.  Doz's,  but  without  a  letter  from  anybody.  'Tis 
a  satisfaction,  however,  to  learn  by  him  that  you  and  Betsey 
and  the  child  were  well  last  week.  By  him  also  I  find  that 
Crum,  with  the  wagon,  and  William  George,  were  as  near 
Wyoming  as  the  top  of  the  mountain  when  Avery  passed 
them.  I  am  sorry  the  chimney  of  the  house  was  not  finished  ; 
I  fear  the  frost  may  injure  it.  I  hope  the  house  will  be 
habitable  as  soon  as  the  sashes  are  glazed.  Those  of  the 
lower  room  and  kitchen  had  best  be  done  first. 

"  The  roots  in  the  cellar  of  our  house  should  be  looked 
after,  and  covered  with  shavings  to  keep  them  from  the  frost, 
until  the  chimney  shall  be  done,  and  fires  made  in  it  daily  to 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  339 

warm  the  house.  But  let  all  possible  care  be  taken  of  fire 
and  candles,  lest  the  house  should  be  set  on  fire.  I  pre- 
sume the  cellar  windows  have  been  stopped  up  to  keep  out 
the  frost,  and  that  the  outer  cellar  door  has  been  made  and 
put  up. 

"  The  children  are  all  well,  except  as  to  the  eyes  of  Charles 
and  William.  AYilliam's,  indeed,  are  nearly  well,  and  Charles's 
not  bad.  Tim  is  just  now  in  town.  I  brought  him  over 
last  Tuesday  to  see  his  brothers,  and  I  expect  to  go  back  with 
him  to-day  to  Mr.  Peters's.  He  is  kindly  treated  there,  and 
well  liked.  He  appeared  perfectly  at  home.  Harry  is  as 
happy  as  a  child  could  be  at  Captain  Faulkener's. 

"I  hoped  to  have  had  letters  from  you,  and  to  have  seen 
Colonel  Denison,  that  I  might  have  known  better  how  to  have 
conducted  myself.  ,  May  I  go  to  you  ?  Or  must  I  yet  remain 
here  ?  I  am  extremely  anxious  to  have  these  questions  re- 
solved. However,  according  to  William  George's  informa- 
tion, I  may  expect  the  arrival  of  George  Geary  and  Dolly  by 
Christmas,  when  I  shall  learn  my  fate.  Adieu,  my  dear 
Beckey." 

A  few  extracts  from  his  letters  to  other  correspondents 
will  show  his  feelings,  from  time  to  time,  in  reference  to 
proceedings  of  the  Convention  for  considering  and  acting 
upon  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  Writing  to 
his  brother,  November  29111,  1787,  he  says:  "The  Con- 
vention of  this  State  is  now  sitting.  I  am  the  member 
for  Luzerne  County.  The  Federal  Constitution  will  be 
adopted  by  a  great  majority.  The  Antifederalists  have 
got  only  about  twenty-two  votes  out  of  sixty-nine,  on 
some  subordinate  questions  ;  and  some  of  these,  I  have 
no  doubt,  will  join  the  Federalists  on  the  great  question 
of  ratification."  In  a  letter  to  his  nephew,  John  Gardner, 
of  December  11th,  he  says  :  "  The  question  will  prob- 
ably be  taken  to-morrow,  and  by  a  very  great  majority 
the  Constitution  will  be  adopted.     Delaware  State  made 


340  LIFE  OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

short  work.  Their  Convention  assembled  on  a  ^londay, 
and  on  the  following  Thursday  (last  week)  unanimously 
adopted  it.  We  have  a  number  of  opposers,  but  they 
evidently  oppose  from  interested  and  from  party  views." 

The  vote,  as  he  expected,  was  taken  the  next  day,  on 
the  12th  of  December. 

A  letter  to  his  brother,  dated  at  Philadelphia,  Decem- 
ber 29th,  1787,  gives  his  views  as  to  the  state  of  parties  as 
developed  in  Pennsylvania,  on  the  question  of  ratifica- 
tion, and  of  the  interests  that  entered  into  the  question 
in  New  York  :  — 

"  You  will  have  seen  by  the  newspapers  that  the  Delaware 
and  Jersey  States  have  unanimously  adopted  the  new  Federal 
Constitution.  Pennsylvania,  by  a  majority  of  forty-six  to 
twenty-three.  The  Convention  consisted  of  sixty-nine  mem- 
bers. The  minority  were  of  that  party  in  this  State  who  are 
called  Constitutionalists ;  from  which  party  alone  all  the 
opposition  has  proceeded  ;  but  many  of  the  wisest  and  best 
Constitutionalists  have,  on  this  occasion,  joined  the  Repub- 
licans in  this  State,  who,  to  a  man,  are  Federalists. 

"  Much  opposition  is  expected  in  New  York.  That  State 
has  long  been  acting  a  disingenuous  part.  They  refused  the 
impost  to  Congress,  because  half  of  New  Jersey,  a  great  part 
of  Connecticut,  the  western  part  of  Massachusetts  and  Ver- 
mont, received  their  imported  goods  through  New  York,  who 
put  into  her  oivn  treasury  all  the  duties  arising  on  the  goods 
consumed  in  the  States  above  enumerated ;  and  the  same 
selfish  spirit  seems  still  to  actuate  too  many  in  that  State. 
But  the  Federalists  in  it  appear  pretty  confident  that  the  new 
Constitution  will  be  adopted,  though  not  without  a  severe 
struggle.  We  here  entertain  no  doubt  of  Connecticut,  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  New  Hampshire.  One  thing  I  will  say,  be- 
cause, so  far  as  my  knowledge  and  information  reach,  it  is 
true,  that  the  most  enlightened  and  the  worthiest  characters 
are  patrons  of  the  new  Constitution." 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  341 

A  postscript  to  this  letter  is  as  follows :  — 

*'  January  1.  1788.  —  At  the  request  of  the  Council  I  have 
delayed  my  journey  till  now,  to  take  some  orders  for  Wyom- 
ing. Yesterday  I  received  by  Mr.  Hodgdon  your  bills  on 
Joseph  Shoemaker  and  Manly  and  Gallagher.  I  hope  my 
draught  in  favor  of  Mrs.  Hastings  will  not  be  inconvenient 
to  3'ou.  I  will  draw  no  more.  I  sincerely  wish  you  a 
happy  new  year.  I  am  just  going  to  set  off.  Adieu.  —  T. 
Pickering." 

He  went  by  the  Wind-gap  route.  Mr.  Hodgdon,  WTit- 
ing  from  Philadelphia,  January  12th,  says  :  — 

"  B}'  Mr.  Haller,  who  is  to  be  the  bearer  of  this  letter,  I  am 
informed  of  the  time  j'ou  left  his  house  to  proceed  to  Wyom- 
ing ;  by  which  I  with  pleasure  observe  that  no  accounts  on 
the  road  had  operated  to  prevent  your  design  of  going  imme- 
diately in.  I  hope  all  yet  remains  quiet,  and  that,  with 
pleasing  prospects,  you  are  enjoying  domestic  happiness.  The 
children  hei'e  are  all  in  perfect  health,  and  are  entirely  freed 
from  the  complaint  they  labored  under  before  you  left  them." 

He   crossed   the   mountains    and   reached    Wyoming 

# 

in  safety.  From  the  expression  in  the  letter,  above 
quoted,  it  is  evident  that  Hodgdon  had  apprehensions 
that  the  Colonel  might  possibly  meet  with  threats  of 
molestation  on  the  way.  Indeed,  great  fears  were 
entertained  by  his  friends  in  Philadelphia  that  he 
would  experience  a  renewal  of  the  outrages  that  had 
driven  him  from  the  country  the  fall  before. 

It  is  a  singular  fact  that  his  wife  continued  to  the 
last  to  dissuade  him  from  returning  to  Wyoming  with- 
out being  accompanied  by  an  armed  force  to  protect 
him.  Great  as  was  the  burden  of  care  thrown  on  her 
by  his  absence,  and  much  as  her  heart  yearned  for  his 
presence,  with  a  strange  foresight,  a  sort  of  intuitive  dis- 


342  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

cernment  of  the  state  of  things,  she  warned  him  of  the 
dangers  that  awaited  him.  It  will  be  remembered  that 
he  interpreted  his  election  to  the  Convention,  subsequent 
to  his  escape  from  Wyoming  in  October,  as  proof  that 
there  was  a  change  in  the  feelings  of  the  people,  and 
that  it  was  safe  to  return.  She  saw  it  in  a  different 
light.  They  suffered,  perhaps  promoted,  his  election, 
with  a  view  to  ulterior  plans.  It  was  getting  him  out 
of  the  county  while  the  Convention  was  in  session,  and, 
so  far  as  it  increased  his  importance  and  influence, 
would  aid  their  purpose,  which  was,  if  Franklin  was 
not  released,  to  seize  his  person,  hold  him  as  a  hostage, 
subject  him  to  the  same  treatment  Franklin  was  receiv- 
ing, or  might  receive,  and  thus  compel  the  government 
of  Pennsylvania  to  come  to  their  terms.  This  design 
Mrs.  Pickering  penetrated.  In  a  letter,  dated  November 
8th,  she  begged  her  husband  not  to  be  deceived  by  his 
election  to  the  Convention,  and  expressed  her  conviction 
that  Franklin's  supporters  were  resolved  upon  getting 
him  into  their  possession,  and  thus  saving  their  leader 
from  punishment  and  securing  his  release.  Events 
proved  her  wisdom. 

But,  before  pursuing  the  story  of  Colonel  Pickering's 
Wyoming  experience,  it  is  proper  to  put  on  record  two 
documents  written  by  him  during  his  compulsory  separa- 
tion from  his  family  and  residence  in  Philadelphia,  from 
the  middle  of  October  to  the  end  of  the  year  1787. 
When  the  cares,  labors,  and  anxieties  with  which  that 
period  was  crowded  are  considered,  it  is  wonderful  that 
he  could  have  found  time  or  opportunity  to  compose 
them.  One  was  a  public  letter  to  the  Pennsylvania 
House  of  Assembly,  through  their  Speaker,  relating  to 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  343 

^Yyommg  affairs  ;  the  other  a  letter,  urging  the  adop- 
j  tion  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  addressed  to  a  personal 
friend  and  military  associate.  Major  Charles  Tillinghast. 
They  are  each  worthy  of  being  permanently  associated 
with  the  memory  of  Colonel  Pickering,  and  of  the 
chapter  in  his  biography  now  to  be  assigned  them. 

The  latter  particularly  is  of  permanent  and  general 
value.  It  alludes  in  several  passages  to  the  want  of 
time  to  do  full  justice  to  the  great  and  momentous  sub- 
ject, and  was  written  with  a  running  pen.  But  perhaps, 
i  nowhere  can  a  better  picture  be  found  of  the  assaults 
made  at  the  time  upon  the  proposed  Constitution  of  the 
United  States.  It  is  enlivened,  as  his  writings  often 
were,  bv  a  free  conversational  stvle,  and  has  £?reat  force 
and  directness  of  statement.  Both  these  papers  bear 
that  impress  of  sound  common  sense,  clearness  of  ex- 
pression, simplicity  of  diction,  and  manly  courage,  which 
made  their  author  one  of  the  most  effective  political 
public  writers  of  his  day. 


344  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Letter  to  the  House  of  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania. — Argument  in 
Favor  of  Adopting  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

1787. 

CoLoiSEL  Pickering  felt  sure  that  it  was  required  by 
every  sentiment  of  humanity  and  every  principle  of  jus- 
tice, — absolutely  necessary  to  give  peace  to  the  district 
of  Wyoming  and  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  —  that  the 
confirming  act  should  be  restored,  and  rendered  sure  and 
perpetual.  To  this  he  was  pledged.  For  this  he  labored  ; 
and,  at  a  moment  when  the  counter  interests  seemed  to 
be  prevailing,  he  addressed  the  following  public  letter  to 
the  House  of  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania :  — 

"  Thursday  evening,  November  22d,  1787. 

"  Sir, 

'^  Deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  mischievous  conse- 
quences of  the  material  alteration  of  the  law  relating  to  the 
Wyoming  lands,  which  will  be  effected  by  the  clause  just 
adopted  by  your  Honorable  House,  I  beg  leave  to  state  some 
facts  which  appear  to  me  important,  and  which,  perhaps,  may 
induce  a  reconsideration  of  it.  The  part  I  have  taken  in  this 
business,  the  safety  of  myself  and  family  which  depends  on 
the  issue  of  it,  and  weighty  public  considerations,  compel  me 
to  enter  on  the  subject,  and  I  pray  for  the  indulgent  attention 
of  the  House. 

"  After  the  law  had  been  enacted  for  creating  the  northern 
part  of  Northumberland  into  a  separate  county,  by  the  name 
of  Luzerne  (a  measure  of  which,  till  then,  I  was  wholly  igno- 
rant), it  was  proposed  to  me  to  apply  for  the  office  of  Prothon- 
otary  for  the  new  county.  I  objected  ;  but  it  was  urged  upon 
me,  chiefly  on  this  ground,  —  that  the  views  of  government 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  345 

being  conciliatory,  my  particular  situation  would  enable  me, 
more  than  any  other  probable  candidate  for  that  office,  to 
promote  them.  I  yielded  to  these  solicitations,  and  applied 
for  that  office  and  the  others  usually  joined  with  it  in  new 
and  thinly  peopled  counties. 

''  Afterwards,  the  Assembly  having  passed  a  law  to  enable 
the  electors  of  Luzerne  to  choose  a  Councillor,  Representa- 
tive, Sheriff,  and  other  county  officers,  and  therein  authorized 
me  singly,  or  in  conjunction  with  the  other  persons  therein 
named,  to  conduct  those  elections,  I  went  thither  with  the  law, 
and  during  the  space  of  three  weeks  was  unremitting  in  my 
endeavors  to  persuade  the  people  to  make  their  elections,  and 
peaceably  submit  to  the  government  of  this  State.  With  ex- 
treme difficulty  I  prevailed.  The  Councillor  took  his  seat ; 
but  the  Representative.  John  Franklin,  having  other  views, 
remained  at  home ;  and,  by  his  artifices  and  misrepresenta- 
tions, seduced  a  considerable  number  of  the  people  from  their 
duty ;  so  that,  on  my  return  to  that  county,  in  April,  I  had  to 
repeat  my  labors  ;  but  again  I  succeeded,  and  the  elections  of 
the  justices  were  ultimately  held,  with  the  very  general  appro- 
bation of  the  inhabitants. 

"  Immediately  after  the  first  elections,  in  February,  I 
consulted  some  of  the  principal  persons  who  had  attended 
the  elections,  and  who  had  been  old  settlers,  and,  as  I  sup- 
posed, were  best  acquainted  with  the  claims  and  expecta- 
tions of  the  people.  Those  claims  and  expectations  the 
petition  which  has  been  read  this  evening  was  intended  to 
describe  ;  and  the  law  for  confirming  the  lands  so  claimed, 
was  grounded  on  this  petition  ;  and  such  words  or  passages  as 
were  inserted  into  the  law,  to  extend  the  confirming  clause 
beyond  the  limits  of  the  Committee's  report,  I  trust  I  may  be 
permitted  to  say,  were  not  "  insidiously  "  introduced.  I  did 
not  conceal  a  single  fact  or  motive  from  the  Committee.  The 
principle  of  public  policy  which  led  to  the  adoption  of  the 
bill,  was  that  of  securing  the  submission  and  future  attachment 
of  that  great  majority  of  the  Connecticut  settlers  within  the 
county  of  Luzerne  who  had  equitable  pretensions  to  lands 
granted  them  prior  to  the  Trenton  decree  ;  and,  to  effect  that, 
it  appeared  expedient  to  extend  the  confirmation  beyond  the 


346  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

occupied  rights  ;  but,  so  far  was  T  from  wishing  or  attempting 
to  conceal  tluit  extension,  I  well  remember  to  have  told  one 
honorable  member,  who  supported  the  bill,  and  who  is  also  in 
the  present  house,  that  it  might  perhaps  comprehend  one 
hundred  such  unoccupied  rights.  The  case  of  the  claimants 
of  such  rights,  as  originally  stated  to  me,  struck  me  very  for- 
cibly. In  all  my  communications  with  that  people  before 
the  first  election  I  held  up  no  ideas  of  confirmation  beyond  the 
rights  they  had  occupied  before  the  Trenton  decree  ;  but  the 
gentlemen  there,  whom  I  afterwards  consulted,  represented 
that,  besides  such  occupants,  there  was  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  persons  who,  or  those  whom  they  represented,  were 
actual  settlers  there  prior  to  the  said  decree,  but  who  had  not 
taken  actual  possession  of  their  rights  before  the  passing  of 
the  said  decree.  These  persons,  they  said,  were  obliged,  dur- 
ing the  late  war,  to  live  with  their  friends  in  the  compact 
part  of  the  settlement,  for  their  safety  and  protection  against 
the  Indians  ;  that  they  had  suffered  and  bled,  in  common  with 
the  other  settlers,  in  the  defence  of  that  frontier  ;  and  that  it 
would  be  singularly  distressing  to  reduce  them  or  their  orphan 
children  to  beggary,  merely  because  their  lots  had  fallen  to 
them  in  places  remote  from  the  heart  of  the  settlement.  I 
need  not  be  ashamed  to  own  that  humanity,  as  well  as  con- 
siderations of  equity  and  public  policy,  prompted  me  to  wish 
such  sufferers  might  be  provided  for ;  and  to  such  the  petition 
specially  referred.  These  sufferers,  Sir,  I  yet  hope  may 
experience  the  commiseration  and  favorable  regard  of  your 
Honorable  Horse. 

"  There  are,  Sir,  other  circumstances  respecting  the  Con- 
necticut claimants  which  seem  necessar}^  to  be  made  known 
before  the  bill  now  pending  is  passed  into  a  law. 

''  The  first  township  granted  by  the  Susquehanna  Company, 
called  Kingston,  was  to  be  divided  into  forty-three  parts,  each 
of  which,  as  the  township  was  five  miles  square,  would  con- 
tain about  three  hundred  and  seventy-two  acres,  without  any 
allowance  for  roads. 

"  Another  township,  called  Hanover,  was  to  be  divided, 
agreeably  to  the  latest  resolution  of  the  Susquehanna  Com- 
pany that  I  have   seen,  into   thirty-six   parts  ;  and  I  think 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  347 

there  is  one  other  township  which  was  also  granted  to  about 
six  and  thirty  settlers.  The  other  townships,  as  well  as  I 
recollect,  were  to  be  divided  into  fifty-three  parts,  which 
gives  about  three  hundred  acres  to  each  right.  In  each  of 
them,  three  rights  were  to  be  reserved ;  one  for  the  first  set- 
tled minister  in  office,  one  for  a  parsonage,  and  one  for 
the  sup23ort  of  a  town-school.  The  manner  of  dividing  the 
townships  has  been  various.  In  some,  they  made  as  many  as 
four  several  divisions.  In  Wilkesbarre,  for  instance,  each 
settler  had  a  meadow  lot  (being  part  of  the  flats)  of  about 
tliirty  acres.  A  town  lot  of  three  acres  and  a  half,  or  three 
acres  and  three-quarters,  a  back  lot  of  aljout  two  hundred 
and  fifty  acres,  and  a  fourth  lot  containing  five  acres,  and 
the  land  reserved  for  the  three  public  uses  aforementioned 
was  left  in  one  entire  body.  In  some  townships  those  three 
public  rights  were  drawn  in  several  lots  ;  and  in  other  town- 
shij^s,  some  parcels  of  land  have  been  reserved  to  accom- 
modate a  mill,  or  for  other  uses  of  common  benefit  to  the 
inhabitants.  Now  whatever  lands  shall  be  confirmed,  it  seems 
necessary  to  advert  to  these  circumstances  to  prevent  the 
confusion  and  mischief  which  a  departure  from  the  usages 
of  the  people  might  produce.  The  surveys  of  townships, 
which  have  been  made  by  order  of  the  Commissioners,  have 
been  conformed  to  those  usages. 

"  I  w^ould  here  beg  leave  to  mention  the  alteration  lately 
made  in  the  lower  line  of  the  county  of  Luzerne.  In  the 
first  law,  it  was  declared  that  it  should  run  west  from  the 
mouth  of  Nescopeck  Creek.  In  the  supplement  to  that  law, 
it  was  declared  that  it  should  run   '  northwestwardly  '  from 

the  mouth  of  Xescopeck  ;  and  in  the  law  passed  on  the 

day  of  September  last,  the  word  '  northwestwardly  '  was  in- 
terpreted to  mean  '  north,  one  degree  west.'  Sir,  I  am  well 
informed  that  this  last  line  will  never  strike  the  ridoe  dividini^ 
the  waters  of  the  east  and  west  branches  of  the  Susquehanna.  I 
am  also  informed  that  it  will  cut  off  one-half,  and  perhaps  the 
whole,  of  the  township  of  Huntington,  which  is  one  of  the  sev- 
enteen townships  mentioned  in  the  petition,  and  in  which  there 
are  sundry  Connecticut  settlers,  who  occupied  and  improved 


348  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 


their  lots  lono-  Lefore  the  Trenton  decree.     A  number  of  them 
have  already  presented,  and  regularly  supported,  their  claims. 

"  I  would  here  cease.  Sir,  to  trouble  the  House  with  any 
further  observations,  had  I  not  reason  to  believe  that  pains 
have  been  taken  to  lessen  the  weight  of  any  applications  I 
should  make  in  this  business,  by  false  suggestions  of  their 
I)roceeding  solely  from  interested  motives.  Permit  me.  Sir, 
to  declare  that  I  claim  no  lands  under  a  Connecticut  title, 
except  those  mentioned  in  the  enclosed  paper;  that  I  cannot 
acquire  a  single  acre  by  extending  the  confirmation  beyond 
the  rights  actually  occupied  prior  to  the  decree  of  Trenton  ; 
all  the  lands  I  purchased  being  parts  of  very  old  settlers' 
rights ;  and  that  I  can  lose  nothing  from  the  lessening  of  the 
original  grant  by  the  clause  just  adopted,  unless  by  that  re- 
striction numbers  of  the  inhabitants  who  will  lose  their  ex- 
pected rights  should  murmur,  and  a  general  jealousy  and 
discontent  be  excited  from  an  apprehension  that  this  step  is 
only  a  prelude  to  the  total  repeal  of  the  law,  —  which,  indeed, 
to  stir  up  the  people  to  rebellion,  Franklin  has  been  continu- 
ally predicting.  Such  general  discontent,  should  it  arise, 
would  oblige  me  to  remove  my  family,  and  abandon  the 
country  for  ever. 

"  I  am.  Sir,  very  respectfullj^,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

'*  Timothy  Pickering. 

"  The  Honorable  the  Speaker  of  the 
General  Assembly." 

The  following  accompanied  the  letter  to  the  Speaker : 

''  Lands  purchased  by  Timothy  Pickering,  within  the 
county  of  Luzerne,  under  Connecticut  titles,  the  whole  ly- 
ing within  the  town  of   Wilkesbarre  :  — 

£      s. 
2  town  lots  of  Colonel  Butler,  fenced,  containing  17^  acres       ....     37     10 

1  town  lot  of   M.   Hollenback,  Esq.,  agent  of  Benjamin  Clarke,  not 

fenced,  3f  and 15  0 

1  meadow  lot  of  30  acres,  and  8  acres  adjoining,  of  Asa  Bennet    ...  90  0 

■J  of  a  meadow  lot,  of  15  acres,  ^  of  a  back  lot  of  about  135  acres,  and 

1  five-acre  lot 65  0 

1  back  lot  of  Jabez  Fish  and  John  Corkin  250  acres 78  15 

1  back  lot  of  Capt.  Schott,  250  acres 80  0 

£366      5 
Total  acres,  704^." 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  349 

The  foregoing  letter,  besides  being  a  specimen  of 
Colonel  Pickering's  plain,  clear,  and  forcible  style,  is 
particularly  interesting  from  its  date  and  the  circum- 
stances in  which  it  was  written.  While  in  bold  and 
earnest  language  he  was  thus  pleading  for  the  people 
of  Wyoming,  he  was  suffering  exile  at  their  hands.  An 
infuriated  mob  had  surrounded  and  sacked  his  dwelling:, 
and  he  had  barely  escaped  from  their  blind  wrath.  But 
he  knew  that  humanity  and  equity  demanded  that  the 
government  of  Pennsylvania  should  be  actuated  by  a 
more  considerate  policy  towards  them ;  and  no  senti- 
ments of  resentment  for  personal  wrongs  and  hardships 
were  suffered  to  abate  his  efforts  in  their  behalf. 

The  impression  made  by  Colonel  Pickering  upon  his 
associates  led  them  to  seek  his  counsel  and  avail  them- 
selves of  his  views  on  important  subjects.  This  has 
been  spoken  of  in  reference  to  some  matters  already 
related.  The  statement  may  be  extended,  with  a  more 
general  application,  throughout  his  long  life.  His  cor- 
respondence shows  that  he  was  thus  constantly  called 
upon.  The  extraordinary  clearness,  accuracy,  and  force 
of  his  faculties,  exhibited  in  all  that  fell  from  his  lips 
or  flowed  from  his  pen,  naturally  turned  men  to  him  ; 
while  the  integrity  of  his  sentiments  and  thoughts  in- 
spired them  with  confidence  in  his  statements  and  reason- 
ings, and  a  full  appreciation  of  their  value.  Among  his 
papers  are  found  careful  and  elaborate  discussions,  thus 
elicited,  of  almost  all  the  questions  that  commanded 
special  interest  in  his  day.  The  innumerable  letters 
that  passed  between  him  and  Washington,  during  the 
entire  military  and  civil  administration  of  the  latter, 
illustrate  this  estimation  of  his  intelligence  and  upright 
.judgment.     His  reply  to  Washington's  request  for  his 


350  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  TICKERING. 

views  as  to  a  peace  military  establishment,  such  as  might 
be  required  and  be  consistent  with  our  other  institutions 
referred  to  in  the  previous  volume,  is  a  most  thoroughly 
considered  document.  In  it  he  suggested  and  advocated 
the  establishment  of  a  military  academy  at  West  Point. 
The  experience  of  the  past  has  justified,  as  that  of  the 
future  probably  will,'the  views  there  presented.*  So  also, 
in  reference  to  the  public  policy  pursued  in  the  formation 
/  of  governments  in  the  north-western  territory,  his  letters 
to  Rufus  King,  Elbridge  Gerry,  and  others,  in  response 
to  questions  propounded  by  them,  are  elaborate  dis- 
quisitions exhausting  the  subject.  They  discuss  at  length 
the  organizing  into  civilized  States  the  vast  regions  then 
covered  by  a  wilderness,  the  best  methods  for  securing 
to  them  a  solid  foundation  in  universal  education  and 
universal  freedom,  and  the  wise  construction  of  institu- 
tions of  law,  for  the  preservation  of  popular  rights,  social 
order,  and  permanent  prosperity.  He  did  not  shrink 
from  the  sacrifice  of  time  and  the  labor  involved  in 
studying,  and  presenting  in  a  carefully  digested  form, 
all  questions  presented  in  this  way  to  his  attention. 
The  results  are  not  so  much  in  printed  works,  laid  be- 
fore the  public  eye,  as  in  private  letters  to  individuals 
in  answer  to  inquiries,  but  often  rising  to  the  character 
and  dimensions  of  treatises.  His  voluminous  corre- 
spondence on  political,  agricultural,  theological,  and  edu- 
cational topics,  comprises  a  vast  amount  of  instructive 
considerations,  perspicuous  arguments,  and  useful  prac- 
tical observations.  Few  men  have  had  occasion  to  write 
so  much,  and  few  have  written  better. 

The  following  letter,  addressed  to  him  by  a  gentle- 

*  Appendix  A. 


J 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  351 

man  who  bad  been  one  of  bis  Deputy  Quartermasters, 
sbows  how  men  sought  and  valued  his  advice  :  — 

"  New  York,  November  24th,  1787. 

"Sir, 

"  Presuming  on  the  many  proofs  of  friendship  and  confi- 
dence with  which  you  have  been  pleased  to  honor  me,  I  have 
taken  the  bberty  to  enclose  a  pamphlet,  lately  published  here, 
on  the  Constitution  proposed  by  the  late  Convention ;  from 
an  attentive  reading  of  which,  and  a  serious  examination  of 
the  Constitution  itself,  I  cannot  but  consider  it  as  very  dan- 
gerous to  the  liberties  of  the  people  of  this  Continent.  I  do 
not  consider  myself  competent  to  a  perfect  knowledge  of  the 
more  intricate  parts  of  government,  but  as  I  conceive  the  one 
in  question  to  be  deficient  in  the  grand  essentials  requisite 
to  the  security  of  those  rights  for  wdiich  we  have  so  ably  and 
successfully  contended  with  Great  Britain,  I  have  concluded, 
and  I  hope  not  impertinently,  to  ask  your  sentiments  on  this 
momentous  business. 

'*  If  I  am  wrong  in  making  this  request,  permit  me  to  plead 
the  indulgence  you  have  always  generously  given  me,  in  per- 
mitting me  freely  to  write  and  speak  my  sentiments  on  every 
subject ;  and,  as  I  have  the  utmost  confidence  in  your  disin- 
terestedness in  matters  of  a  public  as  well  as  of  a  private  nat- 
ure, and  that  you  never  had,  nor  do  I  believe  you  ever  will 
have,  any  views  inconsistent  with  what  you  consider  to  be 
the  true  interest  of  the  States,  your  opinion,  if  you  are  so 
obliging  as  to  give  it,  I  shall  receive  with  the  greatest  pleas- 
ure ;  and,  as  I  have  the  greatest  confidence  in  your  judgment, 
it  will  enable  me  to  view  the  government  proposal  in  its  true 
bght. 

*'  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Sir,  with  sentiments  of  the  .great- 
est respect  and  esteem,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

"  Charles  Tillinghast." 

Among  the  manuscripts  of  Colonel  Pickering  is  a 
rough-draft  of  his  reply  to  the  foregoing  letter.  It  dis- 
poses, in  concise  language,  of  the  arguments  adduced 
by  the  "  Federal  Farmer,"  the  title  assumed  by  the  author 


352  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   TICKERING. 

of  the  publication  submitted  to  his  examination,  and  vin- 
dicates the  proposed  Constitution  at  all  points.  It  is 
given  entire,  as  follows  :  — 

"Philadelphia,  December  24th,  1787. 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  I  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  November 
24th,  and,  in  compliance  with  your  request,  promised  to  write 
particularly  my  sentiments  on  the  proposed  Constitution  for 
the  United  States  ;  but  I  expected  my  letter  might  be  abridged 
or  superseded  by  a  publication  of  the  debates  in  the  Conven- 
tion of  Pennsylvania,  in  which  Mr.  Wilson  gave  a  satisfactory 
explanation  of  the  plan,  and  convincing  reasons  for  its  adop- 
tion. This  publication,  however,  I  find  will  be  delayed,  by 
reason  of  the  great  length  of  the  debates.  I  will,  therefore, 
consider  the  subject,  so  far  as  m}^  leisure  will  permit ;  and  as 
I  know  you  possess  great  candor,  and  seek  for  truth  above  all 
things,  I  shall  write  with  pleasure.  And  if  reasons  can  be 
offered  which  prove  that  the  Constitution  will  not  endanger, 
but,  on  the  contrary,  be  the  means  of  preserving  the  liberties 
of  our  country,  I  am  sure  you  will  give  it  your  zealous 
support. 

''  As  your  fears  have  been  excited,  principally  by  the 
pamphlet  you  sent  me,  I  will  examine  the  chief  parts  of  it ; 
and  if  I  can  show  that  the  writer  is  chargeable  with  sophistry, 
with  a  want  of  candor,  and  with  designed  misrepresentations, 
you  will  give  him  up,  as  one  who,  under  pretence  of  securing 
the  freedom  of  the  people,  has  very  different  objects  in  view; 
and,  though  these  may  not  be  very  obvious,  yet  we  may  be 
sure  they  exist,  for  honest  intentions  will  put  on  no  disguise. 

"  I  may  first  notice  the  art  of  the  writer  in  assuming  the 
title  of  the  '  Federal  Farmer,'  and  professing  his  '  Federal ' 
attachments,  to  prepossess  his  Federal  readers  with  an  opinion 
that  he  really  wishes  to  have  established  a  good  Federal 
government  for  the  States;  but,  Sir,  I  think  it  will  appear 
that  he  is  a  woJf  in  sheep's  clothing. 

"  His  next  attempt  is  to  prejudice  his  readers  against  the 
Constitution,  by  exciting  suspicions  of  the  eminent  charac- 
ters by  whom  it  was  framed  ;  suggesting  that   the  leading 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  353 

men  in  tlie  Convention  were  of  aristocratic  principles,  and 
seized  the  opportunity  of  laying  the  foundation  of  one  gen- 
eral aristocratic  government  of  the  United  States,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  affecting  deeply  to  lament  the  non-attendance 
of  a  few  members,  whose  presence  and  influence  would  have 
prevented  it.  Who  those  non-attending  members  were  I 
know  not :  prolmbly  some  were  necessarily  absent ;  others 
perhaps,  from  too  great  an  indifference  about  the  important 
interests  of  their  country,  and  whose  absence,  therefore,  is 
not  a  subject  for  lamentation.  At  all  events,  it  must  be  ad- 
mitted that  the  attending  members  were  fully  competent  to 
the  task  of  forming  a  plan  of  government  for  the  United 
States  ;  and  if  we  examine  the  characters  of  those  who  con- 
curred in  its  adoption,  we  shall  be  satisfied  that  they  aimed 
at  forming  a  good  one,  the  best  indeed  that  could  be  agreed 
on. 

\  "  Before  I  proceed  to  the  plan  itself,  let  me  mark  another 
amSjce  of  the  '  Federal  Farmer,'  and  other  opponents  of  the  new 
Constitution,  in  raising  a  cry  about  aristocracy^  as  being  (what 
it  really  is)  the  most  oppressive  kind  of  government,  and  per- 
petually suggesting  that  the  General  Convention  and  the  ad- 
vocates of  the  Constitution  designed  and  wish  to  introduce 
and  establish  that  very  government.  But,  my  dear  Sir,  be 
not  alarmed  with  empty  sounds.  In  the  proposed  Constitu- 
tion there  is  no  foundation  for  an  aristocracy ;  for  its  officers 
(including  in  this  term  as  well  the  legislative  as  the  executive 
branches)  do  not  hold  their  places  by  hereditary  right,  nor 
for  Iffe^  nor  by  electing  one  another  ;  neither  is  any  portion 
of  wealth  or  property  a  necessary  qualification.  If  a  man  has 
virtue  and  abilities,  though  not  worth  a  shilling,  he  may  be 
the  President  of  the  United  States.  Does  this  savor  of  aris- 
tocracy P  On  the  contrary,  does  it  not  manifest  the  marked 
regard  of  the  Convention  to  the  equal  rights  of  the  people, 
without  suffering  mere  wealth  to  hold  the  smallest  pre-emin- 
ence over  poverty  attended  with  virtue  and  abilities  ?  It  de- 
serves indeed  particular  notice  that,  while  several  of  the  State 

Constitutions  prescribe  certain  degrees  of  property,  as  indis- 
pensable qualifications  for  office,  this,  which  is  proposed   for 

the  United  States,  throws  the  door  wide  open  for  the  entrance 
Vol.  II.  23 


354  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

of  every  ^laii  wlio  enjoys  the  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens. 
We  should  also  observe  that  titles  of  nobility,  a  great  stimu- 
lus to  ambition,  and  the  most  odious,  as  well  as  most  dan- 
gerous, distinction  between  the  members  of  a  community,  are 
pointedly  excluded  from  this  system.  If  great  hereditary  es- 
tates^ the  foundation  of  nobility,  are  suffered  to  continue,  or 
to  be  created  by  entails,  it  Avill  be  the  fault  of  the  individual 
States,  and  not  of  the  general  government  of  the  Union.  The 
laws  of  most,  if  not  all  of  the  States,  admit  the  distribution 
of  the  property  of  a  deceased  citizen  among  all  his  children ; 
and  no  entails  ought  to  be  permitted.  And,  when  all  exist- 
ing entails  shall  be  broken,  and  future  ones  forbidden,  we 
may  make  ourselves  easy  about  aristocratic  ambition.  Great 
accumulations  of  wealth  will  then  be  rare,  of  short  con- 
tinuance, and  consequently  never  dangerousT/ 

"  The  '  Federal  Farmer'  describes  three  different  forms  of 
free  government,  under  either  of  which  he  says  the  United 
States  may  exist  as  a  nation.  The  first  is  that  which  is  at  pres- 
ent established  by  the  Articles  of  Confederation.  The  second 
is  a  government  which  might  be  grounded  on  the  annihilation 
of  the  State  governments,  and  a  perfect  union  and  consolida- 
tion of  all  the  States  under  one  entire  government.  The  third 
will  consolidate  the  States  for  certain  national  objects,  and 
leave  them  severally  distinct,  independent  republics  as  to  in- 
ternal policy  generally.  This  last  is  the  form  of  government 
he  would  choose  ;  and  'tis  the  last  which  has  been  chosen 
and  recommended  to  the  people  by  the  General  Convention. 

"  The  only  difference,  then,  between  them  should  arise 
about  the  distribution  of  powers,  to  be  vested  in  the  general 
government  and  the  governments  of  the  several  States.  On 
this  point  we  may  expect  men  will  differ.  The  General 
Convention  acknowledged  the  difficulty  of  drawing,  with  pre- 
cision, the  line  between  those  rights  which  must  be  surren- 
dered, and  those  which  may  be  reserved. 

"  Let  us  now  view  their  plan,  and,  after  a  dispassionate 
consideration  of  it,  seriously  ask  ourselves,  whether  a  better 
distribution  of  powers  could  be  made?  whether  any  are 
assigned  to  the  national  government  which  do  not  embrace 
national  objects  ?  and  whether,  with  less  power,  the  general 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  3 00 

government  can  preserve  the  Union,  establish  justice,  insure 
domestic  tranquillity,  provide  for  the  common  defence  and 
general  welfare  of  the  United  States,  and  secure  the  blessings 
of  liberty  to  ourselves  and  our  posterity  ? 

"  I  shall  not  spend  time  in  descanting  on  one  entire  govern- 
ment for  the  United  States,  which  would  abolish  all  the  State 
governments  ;  for,  as  such  a  government  is  not  in  contempla- 
tion, we  have  nothing  to  do  with  it.  I  will  only  remark  that, 
as  'tis  admitted  by  all  to  be  a  form  of  government  unsafe  for 
a  country  as  extensive  as  ours,  the  '  Federal  Farmer'  and  other 
opposers  of  the  Constitution  endeavor,  by  their  bold  but 
unwarrantable  assertions  to  persuade  their  readers,  not  only 
that  it  will  issue  in  such  an  entire  government,  but  that  its 
framers 'proposed  the  partial  consolidation,  with  a  view  to 
collect  all  powers  in  the  United  States,  ultimately,  into  one 
entire  government.'  This,  indeed,  is  an  extraordinary  con- 
clusion. The  '  Federal  Farmer '  admits  the  necessity  of  the 
*  partial  consolidation,'  as  the  only  plan  of  government  which 
can  secure  the  freedom  and  haj^piness  of  this  peojjle  ;  and 
yet,  when  the  Convention  have  proposed  a  partial  consolida- 
tion, he  says  they  evidently  designed  thereby  to  effect  ulti- 
matelv  an  eiitire  consolidation  ! 

"  In  respect  to  the  organization  of  the  general  government, 
the  '  Federal  Farmer,'  as  well  as  other  opposers,  object  to  the 
smallness  of  the  representation  of  the  people  in  the  House 
of  Representatives ;  and  uniformly  reason  upon  the  supposi- 
tion that  it  will  never  consist  of  more  than  sixtv-five  members, 
which  is  the  number  it  is  to  be  composed  of,  onl}'  until  the 
actual  enumeration  of  the  people  shall  have  been  made.  As 
soon  as  that  shall  be  effected,  the  House  of  Representatives, 
reckoning  one  member  for  every  thirty  thousand  of  the  people, 
will  consist,  probabl}',  of  at  least  one  hundred  members,  and, 
in  twenty-five  years  more,  of  two  hundred  members,  and,  iu 
half  a  century,  it  would  consist  of  four  hundred  members.  It 
is  true,  the  Congress  will  possess  a  power  of  limiting  the 
number  of  Representatives,  so  that  they  shall  never  exceed  one 
for  every  thirty  thousand,  and  they  may  be  less.  This  power 
of  regulating  and  limiting  tlie  number  of  Representatives  is 
properly  vested  in  Congress.     Otherwise,  that  House  woidd, 


356  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

in  a  century,  become  a  most  unwieldy  body,  and  as  very  a 
mob  as  the  British  House  of  Commons.  Such  a  power  of 
regulating  the  number  of  the  Representatives  in  the  legislat- 
ure is  not  a  novelty.  In  Pennsylvania,  Avhere  the  proposed 
Constitution  has  been  so  violently  opposed,  there  is  vested  in 
the  legislature  a  similar  power. 

"  The  capital  error  of  all  these  objectors,  and  which  reduces 
all  their  reasoning  to  mere  sophistry,  is  their  assuming  for 
granted  that  our  Federal  rulers  will  necessarily  have  iv.terests 
separate  from  those  of  the  people,  and  exercise  the  powers  of 
government  not  only  arhitrarily  but  wantonly.  But,  Sir, 
on  what  do  they  ground  such  wild  surmises  ?  Why,  they  tell 
you  that  Congress  will  have  power  to  regulate  the  elections 
of  Senators  and  Representatives,  and  that,  possessing  this 
power,  they  will  exercise  it  to  deprive  the  people  of  the  free- 
dom of  election.  The  '  Federal  Farmer'  says,  'The  general 
legislature  may  so  regulate  elections,  as  to  secure  the  choice 
of  any  particular  description  of  men  ;  it  may  make  the  whole 
State  one  district ;  make  the  capital,  or  any  places  in  the 
State,  the  place  or  places  of  election,'  and  so  forth,  in  the 
same  chimerical  strain.  But  does  he,  does  any  man  of  com- 
mon sense,  really  believe  that  the  Congress  will  ever  be  guilty 
of  so  wanton  an  exercise  of  power  ?  Will  the  immediate  Rep- 
resentatives of  the  people,  in  Congress,  ever  consent  to  so 
oppressive  a  regulation  ?  For  whose  benefit  would  they  do 
it?  Would  not  the  first  attempt  certainly  exclude  them- 
selves ?  And  would  not  the  State  legislatures,  at  their  next 
election  of  Senators,  as  certainly  reject  every  one  who  should 
give  his  assent  to  such  a  law  ?  and  if  the  President  did  not 
firmly  give  his  qualified  negative  to  it,  would  he  ever  again 
be  placed  in  the  chair  of  government  ?  What  other  oppres- 
sive regulation  can  they  make,  which  will  not  immediately, 
or  in  a  short  time,  affect  them  in  common  with  their  fellow- 
citizens  ?  What,  then,  have  we  to  fear  on  this  head  ?  But 
will  no,  advantage  arise  from  the  controlling  power  of  Con- 
gress ?  Yes,  certainly.  I  say  a  controlling^  because  a  candid 
interpretation  of  that  section  in  the  Constitution  will  show 
that  it  is  intended  and  expected,  that  the  times,  places,  and 
modes  of  electing  Senators   and  Representatives  should  be 


LIFE    OF    TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  357 

regulated  by  the  State  legislatures  ;  but  that,  if  any  particu- 
lar State  government  should  be  refractory,  and,  in  the  pride 
of  sovereignty,  or  influenced  by  any  other  motive,  should 
either  make  no  such  regulations  or  improper  ones,  then  the 
Congress  will  have  power  to  make  such  regulations  as  will  en- 
sure to  the  people  their  rights  of  election  and  establish  a  uni- 
formity in  the  mode  of  constituting  the  members  of  the  Senate  and 
House  of  Representatives.  If  we  give  a  loose  to  our  imagina- 
tions, we  may  suppose  that  tlie  State  governments  may  abuse 
their  power,  and  regulate  these  elections  in  such  manner  as 
would  be  highly  inconvenient  to  the  people,  and  injurious  to 
the  common  interests  of  the  States.  And,  if  such  abuses  should 
be  attempted,  will  not  the  pieople  rejoice  that  Congress  have  a 
constitutional  power  of  correcting  them? 

"  The  next  objection  is  made  to  the  Constitution  of  the 
Senate,  where  the  smallest  State,  as  '  Delaware,  will  have  as 
much  constitutional  influence  as  the  largest  in  the  Union.' 
This  objection  is  made  with  an  ill  grace  by  those  who  pretend 
to  be  advocates  for  a  Federal,  in  opposition  to  a  consolidated^ 
government.  '  The  Federal  Farmer  '  confesses  that '  the  Senate 
is  entirely  on  the  Federal  plan.'  And  tell  me.  Sir,  without 
this  equality  of  voice  in  the  Senate,  what  constitutional  means 
have  the  small  States  of  preserving  that  portion  of  indepen- 
dency which  by  this  Constitution  they  will  retain.  This  reser- 
vation to  each  State  of  equal  power  in  the  Senate  is  one  striking 
proof  that  an  entire  consolidation  or  union  of  all  the  powers 
of  government,  in  the  general  legislature,  was  never  intended. 
For,  in  such  a  union  of  powers,  the  representation  of  each  State 
in  the  Senate  should,  like  that  in  the  House  of  Representatives, 
be  proportioned  to  the  numbers  of  the  people.  But  whether 
this  equal  power  of  each  State  in  the  Senate  be  proper  or  not, 
what  other  provision  could  be  made  ?  The  States  represented 
in  the  General  Convention  were  each  sovereign  and  indejoen- 
dent ;  and,  if  the  small  States  refused  to  yield  that  point,  what 
was  to  be  done  ?  Was  the  Union  to  be  dissolved  ?  Notwith- 
standing this  equality  of  power  in  the  Senators  of  each  State, 
have  not  the  larger  States  made  a  great  acquisition,  b}^  obtain- 
ing in  the  other  branch  of  the  legislature  a  representation 
proportioned  to  their  strength  and  importance  ?     How  much 


358  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

more  just  will  be  tlieir  representation  in  the  general  govern- 
ment liy  the  })roposed  Constitution  than  it  is  now,  under  the 
old  articles  of  Confederation  ?  In  the  choice  of  the  President 
and  Vice-President,  the  large  States  have  also  a  voice  propor- 
tioned to  their  numbers  ;  unless,  in  the  case  of  the  President, 
no  one  candidate  has  a  majority  of  the  votes ;  for  then  the 
Federal  principle  is  again  to  operate,  and  the  President  is  to 
be  selected  by  the  votes  of  the  States^  the  Representatives  of 
each  having  one  vote.  On  this  branch  of  the  government, 
the  '  Federal  Farmer '  makes  this  observation,  '  I  suppose  it 
was  impracticable  for  the  three  large  States,  as  they  were 
called,  to  get  the  Senate  formed  on  any  other  principles  ;  but 
this  only  proves  that  we  cannot  form  one  general  government 
on  equal  and  just  principles,  and  that  we  ought  not  to  lodge 
in  it  such  extensive  powers,  before  we  are  convinced  of  the 
practicability  of  organizing  it  on  just  and  equal  principles.' 
Here  we  see  the  issue  of  all  the  objections  of  the  '  Federal 
Farmer  '  and  other  opposers  of  the  Constitution.  They  go  to 
the  rejection  of  every  form  of  an  efficient  government  for  the 
United  States ;  and  if  these  gentlemen  could  prevail,  no  such 
government  wQuld  obtain,  and  the  Union  would  soon  be  dis- 
solved. The  fatal  mischiefs  that  would  result  from  such  a 
dissolution  need  not  be  pointed  out.  I  am  happy,  however, 
to  find  their  opinions  have  so  little  influence.  Two  States 
have  already  unanimously  adopted  the  Constitution.  The 
opposition  to  it  in  Pennsylvania  is  evidently  the  opposition  of 
a  State  party.  This  part}^  is  distinguished  by  the  term  Con- 
stitutionalists^ Avhich  title  they  assumed  as  the  warm  advocates 
of  the  ill-arranged  Constitution  of  this  State.  Their  oppo- 
nents called  themselves  Republicans ;  and  the  politics  of  the 
State  have  been  constantly  vibrating,  as  the  one  or  the  other 
party  gained  an  ascendancy  in  the  government.  On  the 
present  question,  however,  the  scene  is  greatly  changed. 
Many,  and  those  of  the  most  sensible  and  worthy  among  the 
Constitutionalists,  have  decidedly  declared  themselves  in 
favor  of  the  proposed  Constitution  for  the  United  States,  and 
the  Republicans,  to  a  man,  I  believe,  are  its  determined  advo- 
cates. If  it  meets  any  opposition  in  the  New  England  States, 
it  will  be  chiefly  from  the  Shaysites  and  paper-money  men. 
But  their  numbers  and  character  are  alike  contemptible. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKEIIING.  359 

"  But  to  return  to  the  '  Federal  Farmer.'  He  mentions  as 
an  objection  the  eligibility  of  members  of  Congress  to  offices, 
civil  and  military,  but  without  subjoining  that,  the  moment 
they  accept  any  such  offices,  they  lose  their  seats  in  Congress. 
He  objects,  also,  to  the  powers  of  the  Senate  as  too  extensive, 
and  thinks  they  will  too  much  control  the  President,  and  he 
even  affects  to  tremble  for  the  House  of  Representatives 
itself,  as  in  danger  of  being  oppressed  by  this  mighty  Senate  ; 
which  is  trulv  ridiculous.  Can  the  Senate  make  war,  raise 
armies,  build  navies,  or  raUe  a  shilling  of  money ^  without  the 
House  of  Representatives  ?  No  !  Where,  then,  is  the  danger 
that  this  House  will  be  oppressed?  But  the  Senate  have^  in 
effect,  the  power  of  conferring  offices.  No  such  thing.  They  can 
only  approve  those  whom  the  President  shall  name  to  office ; 
and  the  President  is  to  be  chosen,  mediately,  by  the  people. 
The  President  will  have  no  dependence  on  the  State  govern- 
ments, and  therefore  will  feel  no  inducements  to  submit  him- 
self to  their  Representatives.  Even  the  '  Federal  Farmer ' 
admit's  '  that  the  election  of  the  President  and  Vice-President 
seems  to  be  properly  secured.' 

"  He  objects  to  the  powers  of  the  judicial  department,  say- 
ing: 'In  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  are  lodged  the 
laiv,  the  equity,  and  the  fact.'  These  powers,  he  says,  in 
well-balanced  governments,  are  ever  kept  distinct.  Why, 
Sir,  there  are  no  such  governments  in  the  world,  save  the 
British,  and  those  which  have  been  formed  on  the  British 
model ;  that  is,  the  governments  of  the  United  States.  Ex- 
cept in  those  governments,  a  court  of  equity,  distinct  from  a 
court  of  law,  is  unknown.  And  among  the  United  States, 
two  or  three  only,  I  believe,  have  such  distinct  courts 
of  equity.  In  the  rest,  the  courts  of  law  possess  also  the 
powers  of  courts  of  equity,  for  the  most  common  and  useful 
purposes.  '  It  is,'  says  the  '  Federal  Farmer,'  '  very  dangerous 
to  vest,  in  the  same  Judge,  power  to  decide  on  the  law  and 
also  general  powers  in  equity ;  for,  if  the  law  restrain  him,  he 
is  only  to  step  into  his  shoes  of  equity,  and  give  what  judg- 
ment his  reason  or  opinion  may  dictate.'  Sir,  this  is  all  stuff. 
Read  a  few  passages  in  *  Blackstoue's  Commentaries,'  and  you 
will  be  convinced  of  it.     '  Equity  '  (says  he,  Book  III.,  chap- 


o 


60  LIFE   OF   tlMOTHY  PICKERING. 


ter  xxvii.),  '  is  the  soul  and  spirit  of  all  law.  Positive  (or 
statute)  law  is  construed,  and  rational  law  is  made,  b3'it.  In 
this,  equity  is  synonymous  to  justice  ;  in  that,  to  the  true  sense 
and  sound  interpretation  of  the  rule.  But  the  very  terms 
of  a  court  of  equity  and  a  court  of  law,  as  contrasted  to 
each  other,  are  apt  to  confound  and  mislead  us  ;  as  if  the  one 
judged  without  equity,  and  the  other  was  not  bound  by  any 
law.  Whereas,  every  definition  or  illustration  to  be  met  with, 
which  now  draws  a  line  between  the  two  jurisdictions,  by 
setting  law  and  equity  in  opposition  to  each  other,  will  be 
found  either  totally  erroneous  or  erroneous  to  a  certain  de- 
gree.' '  Thus,  it  is  said  that  it  is  the  business  of  a  court  of 
equity  in  England  to  abate  the  rigor  of  the  common  law. 
But  no  such  power  is  contended  for.'  '  It  is  also  said  that  a 
court  of  equity  determines,  according  to  the  spirit  of  the  rule, 
and  not  according  to  the  strictness  of  the  letter.  But  so  also 
does  a  court  of  law.  Both,  for  instance,  are  equally  bound, 
and  equally  profess  to  interpret  statutes  according  to  the  true 
intent  of  the  legislature.'  '  There  is  not  a  single  rule  of  inter- 
preting laws,  whether  equitably  or  strictly,  that  is  not  equally 
used  b}'  the  Judges  in  the  courts  both  of  law  and  equity.' 
*  Each  endeavors  to  fix  and  adopt  the  true  sense  of  the  law  in 
question,  and  neither  can  enlarge,  diminish,  or  alter  that  sense 
in  a  single  tittle.'  Where  then,  you  will  ask,  consists  the  es- 
sential difference  between  the  two  courts  ?  Take  Blackstone's 
answer :  '  It  principally  consists  in  the  different  modes  of  ad- 
ministering justice  in  each  ;  in  the  mode  of  proof  ^  the  mode  of 
trials  and  the  mode  of  relief.''  From  him,  also,  you  Avill  learn 
that  an  act  of  Parliament  was  passed,  in  the  reign  of  EdAvard 
I.  (see  '  Commentaries,'  Book  III.,  chapter  iv.),  making 
provisions  which,  by  a  little  liberality  in  the  Judges  of  the 
courts  of  law,  '  might  have  effectually  answered  all  the  pur- 
.  poses  of  a  court  of  equity.'  As  our  ideas  of  a  court  of  equity 
are  derived  from  the  English  jurisprudence,  so,  doubtless,  the 
Convention,  in  declaring  that  the  judicial  power  shall  extend 
to  all  cases  in  equity  as  well  as  law^  under  the  Federal  juris- 
diction, had,  principall}^  a  reference  to  the  mode  of  adminis- 
tering justice  in  cases  of  equity,  agreeably  to  the  practice  of 
the  Court  of  Chancery  in  England. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  361 

"  I  intended,  my  dear  Sir,  to  have  examined  all  the  princi- 
pal objections  of  the  '  Federal  Farmer ;  '  but  to  do  it  particu- 
larly, I  find,  would  oblige  me  to  write  a  volume  ;  and  I  see  in 
every  page  of  his  pamphlet  so  much  disingenuity,  I  confess  that 
I  lose  my  patience ;  neither  have  I  time  to  treat  the  subject 
much  farther  in  detail.  Let  me  observe  generally  that  the 
'  Federal  Farmer,'  and  other  writers  of  the  same  stamp,  in  re- 
citing the  powers  of  the  Congress,  throw  in  expressions  un- 
duly to  alarm  their  readers  with  ideas  that  those  powers  will 
be  arbitrarily  exercised,  such  as  '  will  and  pleasure,'  '  at  dis- 
cretion,' 'absolute  power,'  &c.,  &c.  He  says,  'a  power  to 
levy  and  collect  taxes,  at  discretion^  is  in  itself  of  very  great 
importance.'  This  is  very  true,  but  what  then  ?  Does  not 
the  legislature  of  New  York,  and  of  every  other  State,  possess 
the  power  of  taxing  the  people  at  discretion^  at  will  and 
pleasure  ?  and,  in  this  as  well  as  many  other  things,  is  not  their 
power  absolute  ?  But  the  presumption  is  that  this  discretion^ 
ivill  and  pleasure^  and  absolute  power  will  be  under  the  direc- 
tion of  reason;  and  the  presumption  is  so  well  founded,  that 
the  people  are,  in  fact,  under  no  apprehension  of  oppression 
from  the  exercise  of  such  powers. 

"  I  mentioned  the  disingenuity  of  the  '  Federal  Farmer.'  In 
addition  to  the  instances  already  noticed,  take  the  following. 
Referring  to  the  proposed  Constitution,  he  says,  '  I  wish  the 
system  adopted,  with  a  few  alterations ;  but  those  in  my 
mind  are  essential  ones.'  Attend  then  to  his  remarks  on  the 
system,  and  you  will  find  he  objects  to  every  essential  part,  — 
to  the  smallness  of  the  House  of  Representatives ;  to  the 
Federal  and  small  representation  of  the  States  in  the  Senate ; 
to  the  President,  as  '  a  new  species  of  executive,'  and  possess- 
ing too  little  power ;  to  the  judiciary,  as  vested  with  various 
powers  which  ought  to  be  separated,  and  exercised  by  different 
courts  and  bodies  of  men;  and  to  Congress  generally,  as 
vested  with  too  many  powers.  In  a  word,  he  objects  to  the 
whole  system  in  the  following  passage  :  '  I  am  fully  con- 
vinced that  we  must  organize  the  national  government  on 
different  principles^  and  make  the  parts  of  it  more  efficient, 
and  secure  in  it  more  effectually  the  different  interests  of  the 
community,  or  else  leave   in   the  State   governments  some 


362  LIFE   or   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

powers  propoi^cd  to  be  lodged  in  it;  at  least,  till  such  an. 
organization  shall  be  found  practicable.'  He  admits  the  for- 
mation of  the  Senate,  and  the  smallness  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives to  be  the  result  of  our  situation  and  the  actual 
state  of  things,  such,  consequently,  if  we  have  any  general 
Cfovernment  at  all,  we  must  be  contented  with.  Yet,  imme- 
diately  after,  he  endeavors  to  alarm  us  with  the  apprehensions 
of  corruption  in  those  assemblies,  because  so  feiv  may  consti- 
tute a  majority  in  each,  and  therefore  easily  'be  influenced  by 
bribes,  ofiices,  and  civilities.'  He  admits  that  the  power  of 
regulating  commerce,  imposts,  coin,  &c.,  ought  clearly  to  be 
vested  in  Congress  ;  yet,  in  the  next  page,  joining  the  pow- 
ers respecting  coin  and  commerce  Avith  others,  he  says,  they 
'  will  probably  defeat  the  operations  of  the  State  laws  and 
governments.'  Thus  he,  like  the  other  Antifederal  writers,  is 
perpetually  conceding  and  retracting.  They  all  know  that 
the  people  of  these  States  feel  the  necessity  of  an  efficient 
Federal  government,  and  therefore  they  affect  to  desire  the 
same  thing ;  but,  in  order  to  defeat  the  measure,  not  only 
object  to  every  material  part  of  the  system,  but  artfully  start 
vain  objects  of  fear,  and  throw  in  here  and  there  a  sentence, 
importing  that  such  an  efficient  general  government,  con- 
sistent with  the  liberties  of  the  people,  is  in  the  nature  of 
things  impracticable, 

"  I  will  now,  as  concisely  as  possible,  take  notice  of  the 
powers  of  Congi-ess,  and  inquire  whether  any  which  are  im- 
proper or  dangerous  are  proposed  to  be  granted  to  them. 
But  let  me  previously  remark  that  the  people  of  the  United 
States  form  one  nation :  that  it  is  evidently  their  interest  and 
desire  to  continue  one  nation;  although,  for  the  more  easy 
and  advantageous  management  of  the  affairs  of  particular 
districts,  the  people  have  formed  themselves  into  thirteen 
separate  communities  or  States ;  that  the  people  of  these  dis- 
tinct States  having  certain  common  and  general  interests,  it  is 
obviously  necessary  that  one  common  and  general  govern- 
ment should  be  erected  to  manage  those  interests  for  the  best 
good  of  the  whole :  that,  as  all  power  resides  originally  in  the 
people^  they  have  a  right  to  make  such  a  distribution  of  it  as 
they  judge  their  true  interests  require ;   consequently  they 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  363 

may  constitute  such  officers  as  they  thmk  best,  and  with  such 
powers  as  they  think  proper  to  confer  for  the  management  of 
the  affairs  of  their  respective  communities ;  and,  at  the  same 
time,  appoint  another  set  of  officers  with  general  powers  to 
conduct  the  common  concerns  of  all  the  communities  or  States 
united. 

"  Let  us  now  see  whether  a  single  power  is  proposed  to  be 
vested  in  the  general  government,  which  does  not  concern 
more  than  a  siiigle  State. 

"  The  general  government  will  have  power  to  declare  war, 
to  provide  for  the  common  defence  and  general  welfare  of 
the  United  States,  to  borrow  money  on  their  credit,  to  raise 
armies  and  build  navies,  and  to  make  treaties  with  foreign 
nations.  Now,  when  powers  are  given  to  accomplish  any 
particular  thing,  it  is  the  dictate  of  common  sense  that  such 
other  subordinate  powers  as  are  indispensably  necessary  to 
that  end  should  also  be  given,  either  expressly  or  by  fair  im- 
plication. But  without  the  power  of  direct  taxation,  how 
can  the  general  government  with  certainty  provide  for  the 
common  defence  ?  raise  armies,  build  navies,  or  repay  moneys 
which  it  shall  have  borrowed  ?  The  imposts  may  be  insuffi- 
cient. Other  sources  of  revenue,  therefore,  must  be  opened. 
It  will  be  said,  it  has  been  said,  '  the  Congress  may  make  re- 
quisitions on  the  several  States.'  True,  and  be  denied  !  '  But 
if  any  State  refuses  to  furnish  its  quota,  let  the  Congress  have 
the  power  of  compelling  payment  to  be  made  by  such  delin- 
quent State.'  And  do  you  think.  Sir,  this  compulsive  mode 
more  eligible  than  in  the  first  instance  to  vest  Congress  with 
a  constitutional  power  of  levying  taxes  for  necessary  national 
purposes  ?  When  a  person  has  once  refused  what  he  ought 
to  grant,  do  we  not  often  see  that,  from  mere  pride  and  obsti- 
nacy, he  persists  in  the  refusal  ?  States  are  composed  of  men, 
and  are  influenced  b}^  similar  passions.  What  if  the  thirteen 
States  were  quite  removed  from  the  sea-coast,  and  revenues 
from  imposts  were  consequently  out  of  the  question,  and 
at  the  same  time  their  situation  and  circumstances  should, 
as  at  present,  require  an  intimate  union  for  their  common 
good  and  security,  how  should  the  common  treasury  be  sup- 
plied?   We  have  had  too  melancholy  proofs,  that  requisitions 


364  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

on  the  thirteen  '  sovereign  and  independent  States,'  would  be 
fruitless.  The  Congress  must,  then,  in  such  case,  have  the 
power  of  direct  taxation.  And  what  would  then  be  necessary 
for  the  entire  supplies  to  the  public  treasury  may,  in  our 
present  situation,  be  equally  necessary  to  make  good  the 
defieiencies  of  the  revenues  arising  from  commerce.  I  there- 
fore am  Avilling  to  submit  to  such  direct  taxation,  Avhenever 
it  shall  be  necessary  to  support  the  general  government,  and 
maintain  the  faith  of  the  United  States.  And  I  am  satisfied 
that,  as  every  such  tax  Avill  equally  affect  the  persons  and 
estates  of  all  the  members  of  the  general  legislature,  the 
power  of  levying  it  will  be  exercised  with  that  prudence  and 
propriety  which  we  have  a  right  to  expect  from  wise  and 
honest  Representatives.  For,  if  the}^  are  not  wise  and  honest, 
it  will  be  our  own  fault  in  choosing  them,  and  we  shall  have 
no  right  to  complain. 

''  On  a  like  principle  it  is  proper  that  Congress  should  have 
power  to  provide  for  organizing,  arming,  and  disciplining 
the  militia,  and  for  calling  it  forth  to  execute  the  laws  of 
the  Union,  sujopress  insurrections,  and  repel  invasions.  As 
the  militia  of  different  States  may  serve  together,  the  great 
advantages  of  uniformity  in  their  organization,  arms,  and  dis- 
cipline, must  be  obvious  to  every  man  who  is  possessed  of  any 
degree  of  military  knowledge.  But  this  uniformity  can  be 
introduced  and  maintained  only  by  the  power  of  the  general 
government.  It  is  also  equally  necessary  that  Congress 
should  have  power  to  call  forth  the  militia  for  the  purposes 
expressed  in  the  Constitution.  In  the  late  war,  pressing  as 
was  the  common  danger,  we  have  been  witnesses  of  the  delays 
of  States  to  furnish  their  contingents,  and  of  their  unequal 
exertions.  If  this  power  is  vested  in  Congress,  the  calls  will 
ever  be  proportioned  in  time  as  well  as  extent  to  the  exigency 
of  the  service.  Yet  this  power,  useful  and  necessary  as  it  is, 
has  been  objected  to  as  dangerous,  and  .in  its  nature  oppres- 
sive ;  and,  therefore,  it  is  concluded  that  it  ought  to  remain 
with  the  State  legislatures.  But  who  are  they?  The  ser- 
vants of  the  people,  chosen  by  them  to  superintend  the  local 
concerns  of  their  particular  States.  And  who  are  thC'  Con-' 
gress  ?    Can  you  give  a  different  answer  ?  are  not  they  also  the 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  365 

servants  of  the  people,  chosen  by  them  to  superintend  their 
general  concerns  in  the  United  States.  Only  bear  always  in 
your  mind,  Sir,  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  United  States  are 
but  one  people,  one  nation  ;  and  all  fears  and  jealousies,  about 
the  annihilation  of  State  governments  will  vanish.  Some  men 
pride  themselves  in  their  particular  State  sovereignties,  and 
are  extremely  jealous  that  the  general  government  of  the 
United  States  will  swallow  them  up.  Ridiculous !  Do  not 
the  people  constitute  the  States  ?  are  not  the  people  the  foun- 
tain of  all  power '^  and,  whether  this  flow  in  thirteen  dis- 
tinct streams,  or  in  one  larger  stream  with  thirteen  branches, 
is  not  the  fountain  still  the  same  ?  and  the  Majesty  of  the 
People  undiminished? 

*'  These  objectors  make  a  loud  outcry  about  standing  armies, 
as  though  a  large  and  oppressive  one,  like  the  armies  of  the 
European  nations,  must  be  the  necessary  consequence  of 
the  adoption  of  this  system.  But  this  proceeds  from  either 
a  want  of  discernment  or  a  desire  to  excite  a  false  alarm. 
We  have  a  standing  army  at  this  time,  —  a  small  one  indeed, 
and  probably  not  adequate  to  the  security  of  our  frontiers 
(though  Congress  have  not  the  means  of  enlarging  it,  how- 
ever necessary  it  may  become)  ;  and,  whilst  we  have  frontiers 
to  defend  and  arsenals  to  secure,  we  must  continue  to  have  a 
standing  army.  The  fallacy  lies  here.  In  Europe  large  stand- 
ing armies  are  kept  up  to  maintain  the  power  of  their  heredi- 
tary monarchs,  who  generally  are  absolute.  In  these  cases  the 
standing  armies  are  instruments  to  keep  the  people  in  slavery. 
But  remember  that,  in  the  United  States,  a  standing  army 
caimot  be  raised  or  kept  up  without  the  consent  of  the  people, 
by  their  Representatives  in  Congress  ;  Representatives  whose 
powers  will  have  very  limited  durations,  and  who  cannot  lay 
a  single  burthen  on  the  people  of  which  they  and  their  chil- 
dren will  not  bear  their  proportion.  The  English  (and  no 
people  have  been  more  jealous  of  their  liberty)  have  never 
gone  farther  than  to  declare  that  a  standing  army  ought  not 
to  be  kept  up  ivithout  the  consent  of  Parliament.  It  is  very 
possible,  indeed,  that  this  consent  may  sometimes  be  improp- 
erly obtained  through  the  undue  and  corrupt  influence  of  an 
hereditary  monarch.     But  as  we  have  not,  nor  in  the  ordinary 


366  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

course  of  our  aifairs  have  reason  to  expect,  any  such  creature 
in  the  United  Slates,  we  may  make  ourselves  easy  on  this 
head.  On  tliis  subject  I  will  add  one  remark,  —  that  vesting 
Congress  with  power  to  call  out  the  militia,  as  the  exigencies 
of  the  Union  may  require,  instead  of  being  complained  of  as 
a  grievance,  demands  the  warmest  approbation  of  those  who 
are  in  dread  of  a  standing  army ;  for  that  efficient  command 
of  the  militia  will  for  ever  render  it  unnecessary  to  raise 
a  permanent  body  of  troops,  excepting  only  the  necessary 
guards  required  for  the  frontiers  and  arsenals. 

''  There  is  but  one  other  objection  which  I  have  time  to 
notice.  That  respects  the  judicial  power.  The  '  Federal 
Farmer  '  and  other  objectors  say,  the  causes  between  a  State 
and  citizens  of  another  State,  between  citizens  of  different 
States,  and  between  a  State,  or  the  citizens  thereof,  and  the 
citizens  or  subjects  of  foreign  States,  should  be  left,  as  they 
now  are,  to  the  decision  of  the  particular  State  courts.  The 
other  cases  enumerated  in  the  Constitution  seem  to  be  ad- 
mitted as  properly  cognizable  in  the  Federal  courts.  With 
respect  to  all  the  former,  it  may  be  said,  generally,  that  as 
the  local  laws  of  the  several  States  may  differ  from  each 
other,  as  particular  States  may  pass  laws  unjust  in  their  nat- 
ure, or  partially  unjust,  as  they  regard  foreigners  and  the 
citizens  of  other  States,  it  seems  to  be  a  wise  provision  which 
puts  it  in  the  power  of  such  foreigners  and  citizens  to  resort 
to  a  court  where  they  may  reasonably  expect  to  obtain  impar- 
tial justice.  But  as  the  courts  of  particular  States  will,  in 
these  cases,  have  a  concurrent  jurisdiction,  so  whilst  they 
proceed  with  reasonable  despatch,  and  support  their  char- 
acters by  upright  decisions,  they  will  probably  be  almost 
exclusively  resorted  to.  But  there  is  a  particular  and  very 
cogent  reason  for  securing  to  foreigners  a  trial,  either  in  the 
first  instance  or  by  appeal  in  a  Federal  court.  With  respect 
to  foreigners^  all  the  States  form  but  one  nation.  This  nation 
is  responsible  for  the  conduct  of  all  its  members  towards  for- 
eign nations,  their  citizens,  and  subjects,  and  therefore  ought 
to  possess  the  power  of  doing  justice  to  the  latter.  Without 
this  power  a  single  State,  or  one  of  its  citizens,  might  embroil 
the  whole  Union  in  a  foreign  war. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  367 

"  The  trial  by  jury,  in  civil  cases,  I  grant,  is  not  explicitly 
secured  by  the  Constitution  ;  but  we  have  been  told  the 
reason  of  the  omission :  and  to  me  it  is  satisfactory.  In 
many  of  the  civil  causes  subject  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
Federal  courts,  trial  by  jury  would  evidently  be  improper ; 
in  others,  it  was  found  impracticable  in  the  Convention  to  fix 
on  the  mode  of  constituting  juries.  But  Ave  may  assure 
ourselves  that  the  first  Congress  will  make  provision  for 
introducing  it  in  every  case  in  which  it  shall  be  proper  and 
practicable.  Recollect  that  the  Congress  of  1775  directed 
jury  trials  in  the  cases  of  captures  at  sea,  and  that  the  incon- 
veniences soon  discovered  in  that  mode  of  trial  obliged  them 
to  recommend  an  alteration,  and  to  commit  all  admiralty 
causes  to  the  decision  of  the  Judge  alone.  So  if  the  Conven- 
tion had  positively  fixed  a  trial  by  jury  in  all  the  civil  cases 
in  which  it  is  contended  that  it  ought  to  have  been  estab- 
lished, it  might  have  been  found  highly  inconvenient  in 
practice,  as  in  the  case  above  stated  ;  but,  if  fixed  by  the 
Constitution,  the  inconvenience  would  have  had  to  be  en- 
dured (whatever  mischief  might  arise  from  it)  until  the  Con- 
stitution itself  should  be  altered. 

^'  I  have  passed  over  unnoticed  the  other  powers  proposed 
to  be  vested  hi  the  Congress,  because  it  seems  to  be  generally 
admitted  that  they  can  properly  be  lodged  nowhere  else. 

"  I  now  hope.  Sir,  that  I  have  presented  you  with  such  a 
view  of  the  Federal  Constitution  as  will  make  it  appear  to 
you  not  that  engine  of  tyranny  which  its  enemies  woukl  fain 
persuade  us  it  will  prove.  On  the  contrary,  I  hope  you  will 
be  convinced  that  'tis  the  best  Constitution  we,  at  present, 
have  any  right  to  expect;  and,  therefore,  that  we  ought  read- 
ily to  adopt  it.  Future  experience  may  suggest  improvements 
which  may  be  engrafted  into  it.  But,  Sir,  for  a  clear  and 
satisfactory  explanation  of  it,  I  must  refer  you  to  jNIr.  Wilson's 
speeches  in  the  Convention  of  this  State.  I  am  just  informed 
that  they  Avill  be  published  by  themselves,  and  therefore 
appear  sooner  than  I  before  expected.  Kead  them  with 
attention  ;  and  you  may  read  them  with  confidence^  for  he  is 
a  great  and  a  good  man. 

"  To  satisfy  you  of  my  hearty  approbation  of  it,  I  seriously 


i 
368  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

assure  you  that,  if  I  were  now  on  my  dying  bed  and  my  sons 
were  of  mature  age,  my  last  words  to  them  would  be.  Adopt 
this  Constitution. 

"  With  sincere  esteem,  I  remain,  dear  Sir,  your  friend  and 
servant, 

"  TUSIOTKY   PlCKERIl^G. 
"  Mr.  Charles  Tillinghast. 

"  P.  S.  If  this  letter  serves  in  any  measure  to  remove 
3^our  doul)ts  and  fears,  perhaps  it  may  produce  the  like  effect 
on  the  minds  of  some  other  candid  inquirers  ;  and  therefore 
you  may  use  it  as  you  think  proper :  but  only  as  from  a 
friend^  not  suffering  my  name  to  appear,  as  it  is  of  too  little 
consequence  to  add  weight  to  my  sentiments,  except  with  an 
intimate  friend J'^ 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  369 


CHAPTER    XII. 

Colonel  Pickering  returned  to  Wyoming.  —  Ineffectual  Attempts 
to  procure  proper  Measures  of  Legislation  for  the  People  of 
that  Territory.  —  The  whole  Country  much  excited  on  the 
Question  of  ratifying  the  Federal  Constitution.  —  Colonel 
Pickerinoc's  Abduction.  —  The  Failure  of  the  Desiorn  of  his 
Captors.  —  Their  Dispersion.  —  The  final  Establishment  of 
Law,  Order,  and  Peace  in  Wyoming. 

1788. 

Wyoming  remained  in  apparent  quiet  for  some  time 
after  Colonel  Pickering's  return ;  and  he  resumed  the 
charge  of  his  affairs,  as  appears  from  his  correspondence. 
Writing  to  Major  Hodgdon,  from  Wilkesbarre,  January 
16th,  178b',  Wednesday  morning,  he  says: — 

"  I  have  this  moment  received  your  favor  of  the  12th,  for 
which  I  am  much  obliged.  It  will  be  impossible  for  me  to 
leave  this  place  so  soon  as  I  proposed ;  but,  if  I  am  well, 
nothing  shall  prevent  my  being  in  Philadelphia,  so  as  to  ren- 
der such  a  statement  of  accounts  as  you  mention  before  the 
first  of  March.  In  the  mean  time,  I  beg  you  to  do  what  you 
can  in  the  arrangement  for  that  purpose. 

'*  We  moved  into  the  new  house  last  Saturday,  and  though 
'tis  unfinished,  yet  we  have  much  more  comfort  than  in  that 
of  Mr.  Hollenback. 

''  The  people  are  all  quiet ;  and  from  present  appearances, 
we  have  nothing  to  apprehend  ;  so  that  my  wife  anxiously 
wishes  for  Charles  and  William  to  be  brought  up.  The 
other  two  she  knows  are  not  in  any  danger  of  suffering.  I 
expect  George  Geary,  John  Scott,  and  Dolly  will  go  to  the 
city  next  week,  perhaps  to  set  out  on  Monday ;  and  we  have 
thought  of  getting  John  Scott  to  return  with  Sally  and  the 
two  boys  immediately,  before   the    snow   fails.       Tim  and 

Vol.  II.  2i 


370  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.       . 

Harry  can  come  on  horse   back  at  any  other  time.     But  a 
sleigh  is  the  only  tolerable  carriage  for  Charles  and  William." 

lie  wrote  again  to  Mr.   Hodgdon,  January  22d,   as 
follows : — 

*'  George  Geary,  John  Scott  and  Dolly  will  set  off  this 
morning  for  Philadelphia,  the  sleighing  being  excellent.  John 
Scott  only  is  to  return,  but  with  him,  his  sister  Sally  and  the 
children.  You  and  my  other  friends  may  disapprove  of  this ; 
but  my  wife  is  very  desirous  of  having  them  with  her,  es- 
pecially Charles  and  William  ;  and  we  think  it  best  that  Tim 
and  Harry  should  also  return.  Mr.  Bowman  (who  formerly 
kept  the  school  at  Cambridge)  undertakes  to  be  their  school- 
master. The  truth  of  the  matter  is,  I  must  lessen  my  ex- 
penses as  much  as  possible.  Charles  and  William  must 
therefore  come  back,  as  we  apprehend  no  hazard  in  the 
measure  ;  and  Tim  and  Harry  have  long  enough  trespassed 
upon  the  obliging  hospitality  of  our  friends.  I  expect  they 
must  be  brought  up  in  the  spring,  if  not  now,  and  conse- 
quently at  much  greater  expense,  and  I  have  a  confidence 
that  the  Assembly  will  revive  the  confirming  law.  Other 
reasons  I  may  give  when  I  see  you.  I  have,  therefore,  to 
pray  you  to  do  whatever  shall  be  necessary  to  expedite  their 
return.  I  shall  be  sorry  should  John  Scott  stay  above  two 
days  in  the  city,  lest  the  snow  should  fail.  If  it  be  gone  near 
the  city,  perhaps  it  will  be  best  to  get  Mr.  Thompson  to  carry 
them  till  they  meet  the  snow.  The  horses  may  take  the 
empty  sleigh  on  bare  ground.  If,  indeed,  they  find  too  little 
snow  below,  in  going,  John  is  to  leave  the  sleigh  where  this 
happens,  and  there  doubtless  it  can  take  them  up  again.  My 
wife  asks  if  Sally  will  be  willing  to  return  ?  She  ought  to 
be,  and  must  le  compelled,  if  she  shows  any  reluctance  ;  for 
she  has  lately  got  additional  clothing  (even  to  a  degree  of 
extravagance  I  now  find),  which  will  last  her  the  year  she 
has  to  serve.  Besides,  when  I  proposed  to  discharge  her,  she 
consented  to  return.  I  wish  it  to  be  remembered  that  the 
children  bring  with  them  all  their  clothes  and  books.  En- 
closed are  letters  to  Mr.  Peters  and  Captain  Faulkener,  which, 
if  convenient,  I  will  thank  you  to  deliver. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  371 

"  I  have  delivered  to  John  Scott  one  bushel  and  a  half  of 
clean  mustard-seed  for  sale,  and  sixteen  pounds  of  good  flax, 
which  perhaps  the  milk- woman  may  take  ;  if  not,  it  must  be 
sold.  I  just  mention  these  two  articles  that  you  may  ask 
John  about  them ;  for  he  can  dispose  of  them  Avithout  troub- 
ling you.  The  price  of  mustard-seed,  I  take  it,  is  fixed  at  thirty- 
two  shilUngs  a  bushel,  and  one  shilling  a  quart ;  but  I  recollect 
old  Mr.  Hall  once  told  me  a  bushel  would  hold  about  forty 
beer  quarts.  The  mustard-seed  cost  me  sixteen  shillings  and 
eightpence  a  bushel.  Perhaps  it  may  be  worth  raising  here, 
as  an  article  of  remittance.  I  propose  to  raise  an  acre  of 
hemp  next  summer ;  but  I  can  get  no  seed  in  the  settlement. 
The  few  trials  of  that  article  have  turned  out  extremelv  well. 
I  have  directed  John  Scott  to  inquire  whether  any  seed  is  to 
be  got  at  Bethlehem,  and  at  what  price.  I  will  thank  you  to 
inquire  in  the  city.  At  Northumberland  it  was  sold  last  year, 
I  am  told,  at  thirty  shillings  a  bushel,  wliich  is  monstrous. 
But  Mr.  Hollenback  thinks  it  may  be  got  down  the  river  at 
ten  shillings.  The  seed  must  be  of  the  last  summer's  growth. 
I  am  told  it  takes  four  bushels  for  an  acre.  If  to  be  had  in 
the  city  to  most  advantage,  pray  procure  it,  and  forward  it  to 
Haller's,  if  possible,  while  the  sleighing  lasts.  My  own  sleigh, 
I  suppose,  will  not  be  able  to  bring  it.  I  very  much  wish  to 
receive  tivo  sides  of  good  neat's  leather,  and  two  or  three  sides 
of  stout  New  Eno^land  sole-leather,  to  answer  some  eng^acre- 
ments  and  supply  my  own  family,  and  one  wax-leather  calf- 
skin. The  sole-leather  may  lie  in  the  bottom  of  the  sleigh. 
I  wish  to  receive  by  my  sleigh  four  pounds  of  black  pepper, 
one  pound  of  allspice,  one  pound  of  mustard,  which  John 
Scott  will  get  where  he  sells  the  seed,  one  and  a  half  yards  of 
strong  cheap  linsey,  two  or  three  of  the  roots  of  scarcity  of  Mr. 
Peters,  wrapped  up  well  to  preserve  them  from  the  frost,  a 
pint  of  best  Lima  beans  (Mr.  Francis,  I  guess,  can  inform 
where  to  get  them),  one  pound  of  indigo. 

"  Sally's  bed  should  be  covered  with  a  case  made  of  tow 
cloth,  of  which  vou  will  find  enouEjh  of  mine  in  the  chamber 
closet  at  Mr.  Doz's.  The  bed  may  be  placed  in  the  bottom 
of  the  sleigh  over  the  sole-leather,  and  behind  the  chair.  The 
children  (except  perhaps  Tim,  as  he  can  get  out  and  run) 


o 


72  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 


had  best  put  on  two  or  three  pairs  of  stockings  (the  smallest 
first),  without  shoes;  and  if  each  could  have,  besides,  a  pair 
of  socks,  like  half-boots,  made  of  thick  warm  shaggy  cloth,  I 
think  there  would  be  no  danger  from  the  cold ;  or  perhaps  a 
pair  of  the  thickest  coarse  stockings  of  the  cheapest  kind,  for 
each  of  them,  may  do  better  than  socks.  Tim  can  have  a 
pair  to  haul  over  his  shoes.  They  all  had  mittens  when  I 
left  them.  These  precautions,  and  the  blankets  Sally  has, 
will  render  them  perfectly  secure.  They  all  have  great-coats, 
and  all  very  good,  except  William's,  and  his  will  do,  if  a 
thick  handkerchief  be  put  over  his  neck  and  shoulders. 

''  Be  so  good  as  to  look  among  the  articles  remaining  in  the 
store,  and,  if  there  be  any  things  which  can  easily  be  carried 
in  the  sleigh,  and  which  will  be  of  much  convenience  to  us, 
to  put  them  in.  The  large  tin  painted  kettle  will  be  very 
convenient  to  us  for  taking  up  ashes.  The  large  iron  pot, 
which  belonged  to  the  brig,  would  be  very  useful,  if  we  could 
get  it  here  to  boil  potatoes,  &c.,  for  hogs. 

'^  Addition.  —  Two  pounds  of  ginger,  five  pounds  of  good 
hops,  fourteen  pounds  of  water  biscuit,  two  small  scissor 
sheaths,  one  dozen  nail  gimblets,  one  dozen  hand-saw  files, 
half-a-dozen  files  for  finer  saws,  one  fine  tenon  saw,  one  car- 
penter's adze,  one  piece  or  about  twenty  yards  of  calimanco 
for  women's  skirts,  brown  or  other  dark  color. 

"  John  Scott  is  ready  to  start,  so  I  bid  you  affectionately 
adieu ! " 

Colonel  Picliering's  friends  in  Philadelphia  did  not  all 
feel  so  confident  as  he  did,  that  quiet  and  safety  were 
fully  restored.  John  Scott  delivered  the  letter,  with 
which  he  was  charged,  to  Mr.  Peters  immediately  upon 
reaching  Philadelphia,  and  carried  back  the  following 
answer : — 

"  Belmont,  January  27th,  1788. 

"My  Dear  Sib, 
"  I  received  your  letter  and  was  very  happy  to  hear  you 
are  well  and  unmolested.     I  have  not  the  same  opinion  of 
your  security  you  seem  to  have,  and  beseech  you  not  to  trust 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  373 

too  far  to  it.     You  are,  I  confess,  a  better  judge  of  circum- 
stances than  I  am,  but  consider  von  have  been  deceived. 

''It  is  natural  for  you  to  wish  your  children  about  you ; 
but  I  am  sure  Tim  is  better  here,  under  my  ideas  of  matters 
there,  than  he  would  be  at  AVyoming.  I  don't  know,  how- 
ever, whether  I  should  have  taken  the  libertv  of  actins: 
against  your  desires  had  the  winter  been  more  favorable,  and 
Tim  been  perfectly  well.  But  he  is  now  mending  fast,  having 
had  a  bad  cold,  which  would  be  increased  by  such  a  journey.  I 
have  thought  it  best  to  detain  him  here,  where  he  is  very 
hap23y,  and  really  wishes  to  stay.  He  goes  constantly  to 
school,  and,  I  think,  improves.  I  have  done,  under  all  cir- 
cumstances, what,  in  the  same  situation,  I  should  have  wished 
to  be  done  by  me  ;  and  this  is  a  rule  I  hope  you  will  not 
blame  me  for,  though  it  may  not  meet  entirely  your  wishes. 

"  Mrs.  Peters  begs  her  affectionate  and  sincere  good  wishes 
to  be  presented  to  Mrs.  Pickering  and  yourself.  I  hope  to 
see  you  at  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly,  and  that  you  will 
have  a  better  opinion  of  our  majority  than  theu'  late  proceed- 
ings have  entitled  them  to.  Many  of  them,  I  am  sure,  mean 
well,  but  are  either  bewildered  or  misled.  1  hope  some  plan 
of  compromise  will  be  fallen  upon ;  and  it  will  accelerate  it 
much  to  bring  with  you  the  means  of  clearing  up  many  prej- 
udices, which  seem  strangely  to  operate  with  them.  There 
is  no  man  less  interested  than  I  am,  and  I  believe  I  think  dis- 
passionately about  it.  I  have  turned  the  subject  over  since  I 
have  had  leisure,  and  really  I  am  more  confirmed  in  the  opin- 
ions I  had,  on  the  sudden,  adopted  when  the  matter  was  agi- 
tated in  the  House.  I  wish  you  every  happiness,  and  am 
very  affectionately  yours, 

"  Richard  Peters. 

"  CoLOXEL  Pickering." 


V 


The  following  letter  from  Dr.  Rush  will  be  read  with 
interest : — 

"  Philadelphia,  January  29th,  1788. 

"Dear  Sir, 
"  I  rejoice  with  your  numerous  friends  in  your  agreeable 
prospects  of  peace  and  order  in  Luzerne  county. 

"The  papers  will  give  you  an  account  of  the  progress  of 


374  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

Federal  principles  and  events.  Massachusetts  is  much  divided, 
owing  to  the  Province  of  Maine  uniting  with  the  insurgent 
counties.  The  opposition,  it  is  said,  is  conducted  by  S. 
Adams.  King  and  Gorham  write  desponding  letters  to  their 
friends  in  the  Middle  States.  But  all  will,  I  have  no  doubt, 
yet  end  well.  A  vessel,  lately  arrived  at  Cape  Ann,  brings 
the  agreeable  account  of  Georgia  having  ratified  the  Constitu- 
tion. 

"  Our  invaluable  friend,  Mr.  Wilson,  has  concluded  to  em- 
bark for  Europe  in  the  spring  to  try  to  extricate  himself  from 
his  present  difficulties  by  disposing  of  some  of  his  lands.  His 
success  cannot  fail  of  adding  to  the  value  of  all  the  lands  in 
Pennsylvania. 

"  Mr.  Coxe  is  full  of  a  scheme  of  rendering  the  Susque- 
hanna navigable  by  means  of  a  lock  upon  one  of  the  lakes  or 
springs,  near  the  head-waters  of  the  river.  He  proposes  to 
defray  the  expense  of  it,  by  means  of  an  incorporated  com- 
pany, in  imitation  of  the  one  formed  under  the  direction  of 
?  General  Washington.  Mr.  Francis  has  adopted  the  plan,  and 
will  push  it  with  all  his  zeal  and  influence. 

"  Mrs.  Rush  (who  has  lately  been  much  afflicted,  from  the 
loss  of  our  youngest  boy)  joins  in  best  compliments  to  Mrs. 
Pickering,  with,  dear  Sir,  yours 

Sincerely  and  affectionately, 

'*  Benjamin  Rush. 

"P.  S.  General  St.  Clair  informs  me  that  he  left  the 
western  countries  in  peace,  disposed,  he  thinks,  not  to  oppose 
by  force  the  new  government." 

Agreeably  to  the  urgent  advices  of  his  friends,  and 
others  desirous  of  bringing  the  Assembly  to  some  decisive 
action  in  reference  to  the  Wyoming  lands,  he  went  down 
to  Philadelphia  in  February ;  but  all  efforts  failed.  The 
open  opposition  of  certain  interested  parties,  and  the 
secret  intrigues  of  others  who  had  views  of  their  own 
prompting  them  to  keep  up  the  insurrectionary  spirit  in 
Luzerne  county,  prevented  all  legislation.     He  returned 


LITE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  375 

to  Wyoming,   addressing  on  his  way  a   letter  to  Mr. 
Hodgdon,  as  follows  :  — 

"  At  Zawits,  fifteen  miles  beyond  Haller's, 
Friday,  February  29th,  1788. 

"  We  arrived  here  about  noon  to-day  ;  but  the  arbitration 
with  Learn  will  oblige  us  to  stay  here  to-night. 

"  At  Echart's,  at  White  Marsh,  I  left  a  small  box  which  I 
received  of  Captain  Faulkener's.  Echart  put  the  things  in  his 
bar  closet,  and  handed  them  out  again,  and  must  have  over- 
looked the  box.  I  shall  write  a  line  to  Echart,  and  request 
him  to  send  it  to  Captain  Faulkener  again.  I  am  sorry  it  was 
left,  as  it  was  a  present  to  Harry. 

"  There  was  no  sleighing  as  far  as  Shull's.  But  two  hun- 
dred yards  beyond  his  house  it  was  very  good,  and  continued 
so  to  this  place,  excepting  only  the  south  side  of  a  hill,  between 
Shull's  and  Bethlehem.  Pocono,  or  Jones's  Creek,  was  open, 
bat  we  forded  it  with  ease.  We  have  Pocono  to  cross  again, 
just  beyond  Learn's,  where,  I  am  told,  the  entrance  is  bad- 
The  other  creeks,  Tobyhanna,  Lelii,  and  Bear's  Creek,  are  yet 
all  fast. 

"  The  arbitrators  have  just  agreed,  and  award  £2  12s.  6<f., 
in  addition  to  the  five  dollars  I  have  already  paid  him,  and 
costs. 

"  I  have  given  Colonel  Stroud  an  order  on  you  for  seven 
dollars,  as  he  agrees  to  pay  the  money  to  Learn.  I  have  not 
so  much  with  me." 

From  such  letters  and  parts  of  letters  as  are  given,  the 
reader  will  form  an  idea  of  the  annoyances  and  trials  of 
all  sorts  to  which  Colonel  Pickering  was  subjected,  in  this 
period  and  passage  of  his  life.  As  he  says,  in  writing  to  a 
friend,  from  his  first  going  to  Wyoming  be  had  been  kept 
"  in  hot  water."  It  will  appear  also  to  what  financial  straits 
he  was  reduced.  His  patrimony,  balances  in  his  favor  in 
settling  the  affairs  of  the  mercantile  partnership  with 
Major  Hodgdon,  and  what  little  he  had  saved  in  the 
Revolutionary  service,  were  rapidly  disappearing. 


376  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

But  he  persevered,  with  good  heart  and  faith,  in  the 
^voi'k  of  procuring  a  just  determination  of  the  questions 
relating  to  the  county  of  Luzerne,  so  long  and  so  strangely 
kept  ])ending  by  the  legislature  of  the  State,  —  with 
how  little  encouragement,  appears  in  the  following 
letter :  — 

"Assembly  Room,  March  15th. 

"  Dear  Sir, 

''  Colonel  Hodgxlon  just  calling  me  out  to  let  me  know 
there  would  be  an  opportunity  to  write  you  this  morning  on 
the  Wyoming  business,  I  shall,  in  three  words,  tell  you  it  is 
in  the  worst  possible  state.  We  have  tw^o  parties  in  the  House  ; 
one  I  detest,  the  other  I  despise.  The  Constitutionalists 
w^ould  rather  stimulate  than  repress  any  thing  that  tended 
to  insurgency  and  civil  war,  and  so  systematically  refuse  any 
measures  likely  to  settle  the  peace  of  the  country.  The 
Republicans  are  bewildered  about  compensations,  and,  not 
agreeing  in  the  mode,  fatally  acquiesce  in  doing  nothing. 

''  I  have  been  urging  the  necessity  of  separating  the  con- 
firming and  compensating  parts  of  the  bill  not  necessarily  con- 
nected, as  the  only  means  of  saving  us  from  confusion,  but 
can  get  no  second.     I  have  no  hope  left. 

"  Your  humble  servant, 

"  George  Clymer." 

The  following  letter  is  from  Colonel  Pickering's 
brother-in-law,  Paine  Wingate,  then  a  delegate  from 
New  Hampshire  in  the  old  Congress :  — 

"  New  York,  March  29th,  1788. 

"  Dear  Sir, 
"  Mr.  Hodgdon,  who  is  now  in  this  city,  informs  me  that  he 
can  frequently  transmit  letters  to  you  from  Philadelphia,  and 
by  him  I  improve  this  opportunity  of  writing  to  you.  The 
distance  of  your  situation  from  New  Hampshire,  and  the  diffi- 
culty of  an  intercourse  between  us,  has  prevented  my  giving, 
and,  I  suppose,  receiving  from  you  any  direct  intelligence  for 
a  long  time.     But  this  separation  has  not  obliterated  my  re- 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  377 

metnbr  mce  of,  or  lessened  my  affection  for  you.  It  is  with 
particular  satisfaction  that  I  sometimes  hear  of  your  welfare 
by  our  friends  at  Salem.  This  pleasure  I  had  in  the  beginning 
of  February,  when  your  brother  told  me  that  he  had  received 
a  letter  from  you,  dated  the  first  of  January,  at  which  time 
you  were  setting  out  for  your  new  settlement ;  and  Mr.  Hodg- 
don  tells  me  that  you  have  since  been  down,  and  returned 
again  very  lately,  and  that  the  last  intelligence  was  that 
your  family  were  all  well,  and  that  your  situation  was  very 
agreeable.  I  rejoice  in  every  circumstance  that  contributes  to 
your  domestic  happiness  and  extensive  usefulness  in  life  ;  but 
could  wish  that  you  had  believed  those  two  objects  obtainable 
somewhere  within  the  circle  of  your  family  connections  and 
former  friends.  Your  brother  was  remarkably  well  when  I 
was  there,  in  February.  I  think  he  appeared  to  enjoy  as  good 
health  and  spirits  as  I  have  known  him  have  for  several  years. 
All  the  other  branches  of  the  family  were  well.  Your  son 
came  with  me  from  Salem  to  Boston  in  a  sleigh  for  the  sake 
of  a  ride,  and  to  see  the  bridges,  &c.,  and  returned  again  the 
same  dav  with  a  lad  who  brouo^ht  me  on.  Master  John  is 
sensible,  and  after  some  acquaintance  is  sufficiently  sociable, 
though  with  strangers  rather  reserved.  He  has  those  qual- 
ities which,  I  think,  will  render  him,  with  the  advantages  of 
education  that  he  will  enjoy,  both  amiable  and  useful,  and  in 
whom  a  parent  will  have  great  satisfaction.  Your  other  chil- 
dren I  have  not  seen  ;  but  I  dare  say  they  afford  3'ou  the 
pleasing  hopes  of  a  fond  father.  I  have  received  a  letter 
from  my  family,  dated  March  17th,  when  they  were  all  well. 
Polly  is  married,  and  I  hope  and  believe  to  a  worthy  and 
agreeable  husband.  She  will  live  about  one  mile  from  me. 
Sally  is  a  woman  grown.  George  and  John  are  two  good 
boys,  and  Betsey,  ni}^  youngest,  is  about  five  years  old,  which, 
I  suppose,  will  finish  our  complement  of  children.  My  wife  en- 
joys uninterrupted  health,  and  changes  with  the  succession  of 
years  as  little  as  almost  anybody.  I  shall  write  to  her  by  the 
post  to-day,  and  let  her  know  that  I  have  heard  of  you  by 
Mr.  Hodgdon,  which  will  make  a  letter  very  welcome  to  her, 
on  your  account,  if  not  on  mine. 

''  I  have  been  in  New  York  since  February  10th,  and  find 


378  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

my  situation  as  agreeable  as  I  could  expect,  considering  that 
I  am  very  domestic,  and  habituated  to  an  active  life.  I  have 
nothing  very  important  to  communicate  to  you.  The  subject 
which  encraQfes  the  o^eneral  attention  at  this  time  is  the  new 
Constitution.  What  will  be  the  fate  of  it  •is  yet  uncertain ; 
but  those  who  are  well-wishers  to  their  country,  and  best 
know  the  situation  we  are  in,  are  the  most  sensible  of  the 
necessity  of  its  adoption,  and  great  pains  are  taken  to  obtain 
the  end.  On  the  other  hand,  there  are  powerful  opposers  to 
it,  who  avail  themselves  of  some  popular  objections,  and  they 
are  too  successful  with  the  less  knowing  part  of  the  country. 
In  New  Hampshire,  when  the  Convention  met,  there  was  a 
majority  prejudiced  against  the  plan.  They  were  chiefly  from 
the  interior  joarts  of  the  State,  and  many  of  the  delegates 
were  instructed  to  vote  against  it.  The  most  distinguished 
characters  were  in  favor  of  it,  and,  after  debating  it  for  some 
time,  there  were  a  few  converts  made,  who  did  not  think 
themselves  at  liberty  to  go  against  their  instructions,  and 
therefore  obtained  an  adjournment.  There  is,  I  y^ink,  a  prob- 
ability  that  it  will  finally  be  adopted  in  New  Hampshire, 
although  considerable  danger  that  it  will  not.  New  York  is 
very  doubtful,  but  it  is  not  despaired  of.  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina  much  in  the  same  situation.  .3Iaryland  and  South 
Carolina  are  supposed  to  be  Federal.  These  two  States  will 
decide  before  the  others,  and,  if  they  should  agree  to  adopt, 
there  will  be  but  one  of  the  doubtful  ones  necessary  to  make 
up  the  nine.  The  important  decision  upon  the  subject  cannot 
be  known  before  the  last  of  July ;  and,  at  ajiy  rate,  I  do  not 
see  that  the  new  Constitution  can  be  got  to  go  as  early  as 
December  next.  Nothing  but  the  hope  ©f  a  new,  can,  I  fear, 
keep  the  old.  Constitution  from  dissolution  long.  '  Sed  nun- 
quam  de  Republica  desperandum.'  The  newspapers  are  so 
tilled  with  lies  that  no  dependence  can  be  23ut  on  any  account 
you  receive  in  them  respecting  the  Constitution. 

"  I  hope  I  shall  soon  have  the  pleasure  of  hearing  from  you 
by  letter,  which  direct  to  me,  in  Congress,  at  New  York.  If 
you  have  any  letters  which  you  wish  at  any  time  to  forward 
to  Salem,  or  to  any  friends  eastward,  and  if  you  will  put  them 
under  cover  to  me,  I  will  take  the  care  of  them,  and  send 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  379 

them,  without  hazard  or  expense,  to  the  place  of  destination. 
If  Congress  should  not  adjourn,  which  yet  is  uncertain,  it  is 
likely  that  I  shall  remain  in  this  place  until  October  next. 

"  I  am,  dear  Sir,  with  sentiments  of  particular  esteem  and 
affection,  your  friend  and  brother, 

"  Paixe  Wing  ate. 

"  N.  B.     I  desire  my  love  to  Mrs.  Pickering." 

An  extract  from  a  letter  written  June  25th  to  Colonel 
Pickering  by  Tench  Coxe  will  sufficiently  show,  in  addi- 
tion to  what  has  been  adduced,  the  deep  anxiety  that 
pervaded  the  country,  while  the  question  of  adopting 
the  Federal  Constitution  was  pending  with  fearful  uncer- 
tainty as  to  the  result. 

"  The  prospect  on  the  Constitution  in  Virginia  is  critical, 
though  I  hope  we  shall  have  it  adopted  there.  The  majority 
will  be  within  six,  as  Mr.  Madison  writes  me.  Governor 
Randolph  is  of  the  same  opinion.  The  people  of  Kentucky, 
ten  in  number,  hold  the  balance.  It  is  expected  they  will 
divide,  in  which  case  we  shall  have  a  majority  of  six.  A 
dreadful  situation  for  the  enlightened,  populous,  and  wealthy 
countries  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  New  Hampshire,  it  is  confi- 
dently said,  will  adopt.  North  Carolina  will  do  the  same,  if 
Virginia  does  not  object.  The  last  four  are  much  more  un- 
certain than  the  first  eight,  so  that  we  have  reason  to  be 
thankful  for  the  order  in  which  Providence  has  disposed  the 
Conventions." 

The  American  States  were  all  kept  in  painful  uncer- 
tainty and  feverish  excitement  during  nearly  the  entire 
year  of  1788.  The  Confederation  w^as  felt  to  be  falling 
to  pieces  by  its  own  inadequacy  and  weakness ;  and  no 
man  could  tell  whether  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  then  under  consideration,  would  be  adopted 
by  the  requisite  nine  States,  or  any  other  plan  of 
union  could  ever  be  devised  and  established.     The  diffi- 


380  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

cultv,  irreirularitv,  and  tardiness  of  communication  left 
all  in  the  dark.  It  was  known  that  everywhere  there 
was  an  active  and  determined  opposition  to  the  new 
system  of  government  submitted  to  the  Conventions 
gathering  and  to  be  gathered,  in  the  several  StPites,  for 
its  ratification  or  rejection.  Many  distinguished  lead- 
ers of  the  people,  having  exaggerated  fears  that  the  pro- 
posed Constitution,  in  some  way,  would  endanger  the 
public  liberty,  were  arrayed  against  it.  In  most  of 
the  States,  the  relative  strength  of  parties  could  not  be 
ascertained,  and  in  several  of  the  most  important  ones 
the  question  was  finally  decided  by  an  extremely  close 
vote.  So  highly  were  the  people  wrought  up,  that  the 
news  of  ratification  by  State  after  State,  arriving  after  the 
lapse  of  long  intervals  of  time,  was  welcomed  by  the  ring- 
ing of  bells  and  every  form  of  expressing  grateful  joy. 

Pennsylvania,  more,  perhaps,  than  any  other  State, 
was  convulsed  by  the  agitation.  The  inefficiency  of  its 
existing  government,  and  the  peculiar  condition  of  its 
domestic  pr.rties,  gave  rise  to  wide-spread  discontent  and 
apprehensions. 

All  these  things  reached,  in  baleful  influence,  frontier 
settlements,  and  especially  the  Wyoming  Valley.  A 
lawless  and  reckless  spirit,  the  result  of  its  singular 
history,  and  fostered  by  the  unstable  state  of  things 
evervwhere,  was  prevalent  among  its  people,  which  the 
unaccountable  capriciousness  and  blind  obstinacy  of 
the  House  of  Assembly,  in  not  adopting  and  adhering 
to  a  just  and  equitable  policy  in  meeting  the  question  of 
the  titles  of  the  inhabitants  to  their  lands,  heightened  to 
exasperation,  bringing  them  to  the  brink  of  rebellion. 
The  insurgent  elements  came  to  a  crisis,  in  an  outrage 


LIFE  OF  TIMOTHr  PICKERING.  381 

upon  Colonel  Pickering,  which  has  few,  if  any,  parallels 
in  the  history  of  ciyilized  communities.  He  thus  related 
the  story,  as  it  lay  in  his  memory,  thirty  years  after- 
wards in  the  letter  to  his  son   already  quoted. 

*'  Franklin  remained  in  jail  at  Philadelphia.  This  put  a 
stop  for  a  short  time  to  the  unwarrantable  measures  of  the 
Susquehanna  Company,  and  damped  the  zeal  of  their  parti- 
sans at  Wyoming.  Next  to  his  confinement,  they  seemed  to 
have  thought  my  influence  in  the  county  was  most  adverse 
to  their  schemes.  How  to  get  rid  of  me  was  the  question. 
I  presume  it  engaged  their  attention  for  some  months.  In 
the  spring  of  1788,  as  early  I  think  as  April,  there  were  indi- 
cations of  some  plot  against  me  ;  and  then,  or  soon  after,  it 
was  menacingly  intimated  to  me  by  Major  Jenkins  (I  doubt 
not  in  pursuance  of  instructions  from  the  Susquehanna  Com- 
pany) in  the  hope,  probably,  so  to  alarm  as  to  induce  me 
voluntarily  to  quit  the  country.  In  this  they  were  disap- 
pointed. I  felt  no  inclination  to  abandon  my  farm  and  build- 
ings, which  had  cost  me  more  money  than  I  could  again 
command,  —  nor  to  relinquish  the  cause  in  wdiich  I  had 
engaged ;   so  I  pursued  my  occupations  as  usual. 

"  By  the  month  of  June,  the  indications  of  some  sort  of  an 
attack  upon  me  became  more  apparent.  To  guard  against 
it  by  shutting  myself  up  in  my  house  would  have  been  fruit- 
less ;  because,  if  determined  to  arrest  me,  my  house  was  not 
strong  enough  to  exclude  them.  Besides,  if  I  must  abandon 
my  business,  I  might  as  w^ell  abandon  the  county.  I  there- 
fore remained  at  my  post. 

"  On  the  26th  of  June,  at  about  eleven  at  night,  when 
your  mother  and  I  were  asleep,  and  your  brother  Edward, 
nine  months  old,  was  lying  on  my  arm,  I  was  awakened  by  a 
violent  opening  of  the  door  of  the  room.  '  Who's  there  ?  ' 
I  asked.  '  Get  up,'  was  the  answer.  '  Don't  strike  ! '  said  I : 
'  I  have  an  infant  on  my  arm.'  I  had  no  doubt  that  the 
intruders  were  ruffians,  come  to  execute  the  long-menaced 
arraciv. 

"  I  rolled  Edward  from  my  arm,  rose  and  jout  on  my  clothes. 
Your  mother  slipped  out  on  the  other  side  of  the  bed  ;  and, 


382  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

putting  on  some  clothes,  went  to  the  kitchen,  and  soon  re- 
turned with  a  lighted  candle.  Then  we  saw  the  room  filled 
with  men,  armed  with  guns  and  hatchets,  having  their  faces 
blacked  and  handkerchiefs  tied  round  their  heads.  Their 
first  act  was  to  pinion  me  ;  tying  my  arms  together  with  a 
cord,  above  my  elbows  and  crossed  over  my  back.  To  the 
middle  of  this  cord  they  tied  another,  long  enough  for  one  of 
them  to  take  hold  of,  to  prevent  my  escaping  from  them. 
They  told  me  it  would  be  well  to  take  a  blanket  or  outer 
garment ;  for  I  should  be  a  long  time  in  a  situation  where  I 
should  Avant  it.*  I  desired  your  mother  to  get  me  an  old 
surtout,  which  was  in  the  chamber. f  She  quickly  returned, 
and  I  received  it  on  one  of  my  arms.  They  then  led  me  ofP, 
and  hastened  through  the  village  of  Wilkesbarre,  in  perfect 
silence.  Having  travelled  a  couple  of  miles,  they  halted  a 
few  minutes.  Then,  resuming  their  march,  proceeded  to 
Pittstown,  ten  or  eleven  miles  up  the  river  from  Wilkesbarre. 
Here  they  stopped  at  a  tavern,  and  called  for  whiskey, 
offering  some  to  me,  which  I  did  not  accept :  I  drank  some 
water. 

"  In  twenty  minutes  they  left  this  house  and  pursued  their 
march.  There  were  about  fifteen  of  them,  arranged  in  my 
front,  my  rear,  and  on  both  flanks.  We  were  in  the  darkness 
and  stillness  of  night.  As  we  proceeded,  one  of  the  ruffians 
at  my  side  thus  accosted  me  :  '  Now  if  you  will  only  write 
two  or  three  lines  to  the  Executive  Council  they  will  dis- 
charge Colonel  Franklin,  and  then  we  will  release  you.' 
Instantly  I  answered  :  '  The  Executive  Council  better  under- 
stand their  duty  than  to  discharge  a  traitor  to  procure  the 
release   of  an  innocent  man.*     '  Damn  him  ! '    exclaimed   a 


*  "When  I  stepped  out  of  bed,  the  first  garment  I  took  up  was  a  coat,  in  a 
pocket  of  which  was  a  packet  of  letters  which  I  had  written  to  one  or  more  of 
my  acquaintance,  members  of  Congress  (then  sitting  at  New  York),  detailing 
the  conduct  and  characters  of  some  of  the  leaders  in  the  nefarious  measures  of 
the  Susquehanna  Company,  which  letters  Mr.  Andrew  Ellicott,  thenat  Wilkes- 
barre, and  who  was  to  set  off  for  Philadelphia  the  next  morning,  was  to  take 
with  him.  I  dropped  the  coat,  and  felt  for  a  pair  of  fustian  trowsers,  and  a  fus- 
tian jacket  with  sleeves.     These  I  put  on,  and  my  shoes." 

t  "  Your  mother  afterwards  informed  me  that  one  of  the  ruffians  followed  her 
to  the  chamber,  and  threatened  to  tomahawk  her,  if  she  made  any  noise." 


Lir^   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  383 

voice  before  me,  '  why  don't  you  tomahawk  him  ? '  This 
wrath  of  the  ruffian  was  excited  by  the  word  '  traitor,'  applied 
to  their  old  leader  Franklin.  No  more  words  were  uttered 
on  the  subject. 

"  We  soon  reached  the  River  Lachawannack,  about  two 
miles  from  the  tavern.  After  searching  a  little  while  they 
found  a  canoe,  in  which  some  of  them  passed  over.  On  its 
return  I  stepped  in,  with  others  of  the  gang.  The  water  was 
low,  and  the  canoe  touched  the  bottom  before  we  reached  the 
shore.  I  was  going  to  step  out  and  wade  to  the  shore.  '  Stop  ! ' 
said  one  of  them,  who  had  a  pack  at  his  back.  He  waded  to 
the  shore,  laid  down  his  pack,  returned  to  the  side  of  the 
canoe,  and  carried  me  on  his  hack  to  the  shore  ! 

'  Proceeding  upwards,  we  in  a  little  while  came  to  a  ferry. 
The  day  had  dawned.  They  crossed  over  in  a  scow  (a  large 
flat-bottomed  boat)  to  the  western  side  of  the  Susquehanna ; 
and  we  continued  our  march  on  the  shore  of  the  river,  for  an 
hour  or  two,  then  struck  into  the  woods,  and  pursued  the 
course  upwards,  out  of  sight  of  the  river.  About  four  in 
the  afternoon  they  arrived  at  a  log-house  near  the  bank  of 
the  river,  about  thirty  miles  above  Wilkesbarre.  Here  they 
had  victuals  cooked,  and  I  ate  with  a  good  appetite,  having 
fasted  since  I  was  taken  the  preceding  night. 

"  Seeing  a  bed  in  the  room,  I  laid  myself  down  upon  it.  I 
do  not  recollect  when  they  unpinioned  me.  I  had  lain  but 
a  little  while,  when  a  man  arrived  in  a  boat  from  Jacob's 
Plains,  a  small  settlement  about  two  miles  and  a  half  above 
Wilkesbarre.  I  knew  the  man.  The  ruffians  (supposing 
that  I  was  asleep)  inquired  with  eagerness  what  was  the 
news  below ;  and  whether  the  militia  had  turned  out  to  pur- 
sue them.  He  answered  in  the  affirmative.  I  immediately 
saw  that  I  should  not  be  suffered  to  keep  my  place  on  the 
bed.  In  a  few  minutes  one  of  them  came  to  the  bedside,  and 
said,  '•  Get  up.'  I  rose,  and  they  took  me  directly  back  from 
the  river,  a  quarter  of  a  mile ;  and  behind  a  rising  ground 
they  rested  for  the  night.  It  thundered,  and  a  heavy  rain 
soon  wet  us  to  the  skin.  At  daylight  one  of  the  crew  went 
to  the  house,  and,  finding  all  quiet,  he  returned,  and  we  all 
went  thither.     The  drying  of  our  clothes  and  eating  break- 


384  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

fast  employed  us  till  about  ten  o'clock.  Standing  with  tliem 
on  the  bank  of  the  river,  I  observed  a  man  on  the  other  side, 
leading  a  horse.  It  was  on  the  shore  of  the  river.  Being 
near-sighted,  I  did  not  know  him.    But  one  of  them  exclaimed, 

'There  goes  Major  Jenkins  now;  a  damned,  slinking .' 

By  this  courteous  observation  on  the  second  man  of  the  party, 
and  the  first  in  Franklin's  absence,  it  was  apparent  that,  after 
encouraging  and  engaging  them  in  the  diabolical  outrage  upon 
me,  he  had  deserted  them.  He,  in  fact,  kejot  on  his  route, 
went  into  the  State  of  New  York,  and  there  —  being  a  land- 
surveyor  —  found  employment  during  the  residue  of  the 
season,  and  until  tranquillity  was  finally  restored  to  the 
county. 

"  By  this  time  the  blacking  had  disappeared  from  the 
faces  of  the  ruffians  ;  when  I  found  two  of  them  to  be  sons  of 
one  Dudley,  a  carpenter,  and  a  near  neighbor  at  Wilkes- 
barre.      The  others  were  all  before  unknown  to  me. 

"  They  now  prepared  to  cross  over  to  the  eastern  side  of 
the  Susquehanna.  Gideon  Dudley  came  up  to  me  with  a 
pair  of  handcuffs,  with  which  to  manacle  me.  To  this  I 
objected,  as  they  were  going  to  cross  the  river  in  a  small 
canoe,  and  I  desired  to  have  a  chance  of  saving  my  life  by 
swimming,  if  it  should  overset.  At  this  moment  ^Ir.  Earl 
(whom  I  had  not  known,  but  who  was  father  to  two  of  the 
party)  interposed,  telling  Dudley  that  there  was  no  danger 
of  an  escape,  and  advising  him  not  to  put  the  irons  upon  me. 
He  accordingly  forbore.  We  crossed  the  river,  and  they 
pursued  their  march.  In  an  hour  they  halted  ;  the  leader  of 
the  band  selected  four,  and  bid  the  rest  go  on.  With  these 
four  and  me  he  darted  directly  into  the  woods.  This  excited 
some  apprehension  in  me  of  personal  mischief ;  especially  as 
one  of  them,  by  the  name  of  Cady,  sustained,  as  I  somehoAV 
understood,  a  very  bad  character.  The  leader  of  this  band 
was  a  hunter,  and  had  his  rifle-gun  with  him.  As  we  pro- 
ceeded a  fawn  was  started,  and  as  he  bounded  along  the 
hunter  shot  him,  and  in  five  minutes  had  his  skin  off  and  the 
carcase  slung  at  his  back.  At  the  distance  of  three  or  four 
miles  from  the  river,  they  halted  close  by  a  very  small  run  of 
water.      A  fire  being   quickly  kindled,  they  began  to  cook 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  385 

some  of  the  venison.  The  hunter  took  the  first  cut.  They 
sharpened  small  sticks,  at  both  ends,  running  one  into  a  slice 
of  the  fawn  and  setting  the  other  end  into  the  ground,  the 
top  of  the  stick  bearing  so  near  the  fire  as  to  broil  the  flesh. 
Being  hungry,  I  borrowed  one  of  their  knives  and  followed 
their  example.  I  observed  the  hunter  tending  his  steak  with 
great  nicety,  and  sprinkling  it  with  a  little  sauce.  As  soon 
as  it  was  done  he,  with  a  very  good  grace,  presented  it  to 
me. 

'*  Before  nio^ht  thev  cut  down  some  limbs  of  trees  and 
formed  a  slight  booth,  to  shelter  us  from  the  dew.  One  of 
them  taking  post  as  a  sentinel,  we  lay  down  on  the  ground ; 
my  pillow  was  a  stone.  In  this  station  we  remained  about 
a  week.  At  first  they  had  some  good  salt  pork  and  wh eaten 
bread,  that  lasted  two  or  three  days,  after  which  they  got 
Indian  meal,  which  they  made  into  cakes,  or  fried  as  pan- 
cakes, in  the  fat  of  the  pork.  Of  the  pork  they  were  very 
sparing,  frying  only  two  or  three  small  slices  at  a  time,  and 
cutting  them  up  in  the  pan.  Such  was  our  breakfast,  dinner, 
and  supper.  My  share  did  not  exceed  five  mouthfuls  of  pork 
at  each  meal.*  They  fared  better,  sopping  up  with  their  bread 
or  cakes,  all  the  fat  in  the  pan,  of  which  I  felt  no  inclination 
to  partake.  It  was  here  I  told  them  they  wo  aid  repent  of 
their  doings  ;  and  instead  of  being  supported  by  four  hundred 
men  in  the  county,  as  they  had  professed  to  believe,  that  they 
would  be  abandoned  to  their  fate. 

"  From  this  station  thev  marched  a  few  miles,  and  took 
another  in  a  narrow  valley,  a  sequestered  place,  and  about 
two  or  three  miles  from  the  Susquehanna.  We  had  no  sooner 
halted  than  they  came  to  me  with  a  chain,  five  or  six  feet 
long,  having  at  one  end  a  band  like  the  bands  of  horse-fetters. 
Colonel  Franklin,  they  said,  had  been  put  in  irons,  in  the 
Philadelphia  jail,  and  they  must  put  irons  on  me,  although  it 
was  not  agreeable  to  them  to  do  it ;  '  but  their  great  men 
required  it.'     Satisfied  that  it  would  be  in  vain  to  remon- 


*  "  Yet  I  never  felt  more  alert  and  vigorous  in  ray  life  ;  which  I  ascribed  to 
ray  necessary  extreme  temperance." 

Vol.  II.  25 


386  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   nCKERIXG. 

strate,  I  was  silent.  They  fixed  the  band  of  the  chain  round 
my  ankle,  seeming  it  with  a  flat  key,  which  they  twisted  to 
prevent  it  being  got  off  without  a  tool  to  untwist  the  key. 
The  other  end  of  the  chain  they  fastened  by  a  staple  to  a 
tree.  In  this  situation  I  remained  an  hour  or  more  ;  and  they 
employed  themselves  in  forming  a  booth  with  the  boughs  of 
trees.  This  chain,  besides  its  conformity  with  the  orders  of 
their  '  gj^eat  men,'  saved  my  gentlemen  from  mounting  guard 
every  night.  When  we  lay  down  they  placed  me  in  the 
middle,  and  one  of  them  wrapped  the  chain  round  one  of  his 
legs,  so  that  I  could  not  rise  to  attempt  to  escape  without 
waking  him  up.  But  I  had  determined  not  to  make  the 
attempt,- for  I  soon  considered  that  my  life  was  not  in  danger  ; 
and  I  expected  them  to  grow  weary  of  their  enterprise,  so  I 
patiently  endured  present  affliction.  Besides,  if  I  escaped 
they  could  take  me  again,  unless  I  quitted  the  county,  which 
was  the  precise  object  of  the  outrage,  to  get  rid  of  me. 

"  We  had  been  in  this  valley  but  two  or  three  days,  when 
one  morning,  whilst  all  my  guards  were  fast  asleep,  I  heard 
a  brisk  firing  of  musketry.  It  was  a  skirmish,  I  had  no  doubt, 
between  the  '  Boys  '  —  as  these  fellows  called  their  party  — 
and  the  militia,  who  li^d  come  from  below  to  discover  them  and 
rescue  me.  But  I  let  them  sleep  on,  nor  did  I  tell  them  of 
the  firing  after  they  awoke.  After  breakfast  one  of  them 
went  down  to  a  house  by  the  river,  in  their  interest,  and 
returned  in  haste  to  tell  his  comrades  that  the  '  Boys '  and 
the  militia  had  met,  and  that  in  the  battle  Captain  Ross,  who 
commanded  the  militia,  was  mortally  wounded.*  At  the 
close  of  this  or  the  next  day  they  marched  down  to  the  river, 
and  sought  for  a  canoe  to  cross  over  to  the  western  side,  but 
could  find  none.  We  were  now  at  Black-Walnut  Bottom, 
about  forty-four  miles  above  Wilkesbarre.  Thus  disappointed 
they  marched  back  into  the  woods,  and  we  lay  down  for  the 
night.  The  next  day,  towards  evening,  they  went  again  to 
the  river  and  crossed  it.     It  was  so  dark  that  at  the  distance 


*  "  He  was  badly  wounded,  but  recovered.     Gideon  Dudley  received  from 
the  militia  a  ball  through  his  hand." 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  387 

of  thirty  or  forty  yards  we  might  pass  unseen.  They  passed 
through  a  thick  wood  to  the  house  of  one  Kilborn,  father  to 
two  of  the  party.  There  we  lodged.  The  next  morning  they 
pushed  back  into  the  woods,  about  four  miles  from  the  river. 
This  was  the  third  and  last  station.  This  changing  from 
place  to  place  was  to  prevent  their  being  discovered  by 
the  militia,  who  came  from  below,  at  different  times,  to  find 
them. 

"  On  the  15th  of  July  Gideon  Dudley  (who  now  appeared 
to  have  the  command),  with  two  others,  came  out  to  our 
station.  It  was  late  in  the  afternoon.  After  lounoins:  about 
for  some  time,  as  if  they  did  not  know  what  to  do  with  them- 
selves, they  approached  me  ;  and  Dudley  asked,  '  Don't  you 
wish  to  be  set  at  liberty  ?  '  '  To  be  sure  I  do,'  was  my  answer. 
After  a  little  pause  Dudley  again  accosted  me.  '  What  will 
you  do  for  us  if  we  set  you  at  liberty  ?  '  '  What  do  you  wish 
me  to  do  for  you  ?  '  was  my  reply,  '  Will  you  intercede  for 
Colonel  Franklin's  pardon  ?'  '  No,  I  will  not.'  This  answer 
was  evidently  unexpected  ;  they  were  confounded,  and,  retir- 
ing, they  for  some  time  laid  their  heads  together.  Then  again 
coming  near,  one  of  them  asked,  '  Will  you  intercede  for  our 
pardon  ?  '  After  a  momentary  pause  I  answered,  *  While  I 
have  been  in  your  hands  you  have  told  me  of  your  "  great 
men,"  and  that  you  have  been  acting  in  obedience  to  their 
orders.  By  them  you  have  been  misled  and  deceived.  Give 
me  their  names,  and  I  have  no  doubt  of  obtaining  your 
pardon.'  This  they  could  not  do  they  said,  without  going 
down  to  their  head-quarters  and  consulting  the  main  body ;  and 
turned  on  their  heels  to  depart.  '  Stop,'  said  I,  '  and  knock 
off  this  chain.'  They  instantly  took  off  the  chain  that  I  had 
carried  about  for  ten  days. 

"  I  lay  down  with  my  guard  that  night,  not  doubting  of  my 
speedy  release.  As  soon  as  it  was  light  I  rose,  put  the  firebrands 
together  (in  the  Avoods  a  fire  is  generally  kept  up  at  night, 
even  in  the  warmest  weather),  mixed  up  some  of  their  miser- 
able coarse  Indian-meal  for  cakes,  spread  the  dough  on  pieces 
of  hemlock  bark  (the  usual  trenchers),  and  set  them  to  the 
fire.  As  soon  as  it  was  light  enough  to  see  our  green  tca^  I 
went  to  gather  it.     This  was  the  winter  green^  bearing  red 


o 


88  LIFE  OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 


berries,  wliicli  went  by  the  name  of  partridge  berries.  Infused 
in  boiling  water  the  winter  green  makes  a  tolerable  warm 
beverage.* 

"  By  the  time  my  guard  Avere  aAvake,  the  tea  was  boiled 
and  the  cakes  were  baked.  I  told  them  that,  expecting  to  be 
released,  I  had  risen  and  got  the  breakfast  ready,  in  order  to 
gain  time ;  for  if  released,  I  had  a  particular  desire  to  reach 
home  the  next  day.f  I  then  proposed  that  we  should  go  to 
their  head-quarters,  without  delay ;  where,  if  released,  it 
would  be  well ;  if  not,  I  would  come  back  with  them  again  into 
the  woods.  They  readily  assented,  —  took  up  their  kettle  and 
frying-pan  (our  kitchen  furniture),  — and  down  we  marched. 
AVhen  arrived  near  to  their  head-quarters,  they  halted.  One 
went  to  announce  our  arrival.  Two  or  three  came  out, 
Gideon  Dudley  at  their  head,  when  he  put  to  me  the  original 
question,  "  Will  you  intercede  for  Colonel  Franklin's  par- 
don?" "I  will  answer  no  question  till  I  am  set  at  lib- 
erty," was  my  return.  They  conducted  me  into  Kilborn's 
house. 

"  It  was  now  the  16th  of  July.  Nineteen  days  had  passed 
away,  while  I  had  been  their  prisoner.  Having  no  razor,  nor 
a  second  shirt,  I  had  neither  shaved  nor  changed  my  linen 
during  that  whole  time.  They  had  told  me,  if  I  desired  cloth- 
ing or  any  thing  else  from  home,  and  I  would  write  for  them, 
they  should  be  brought  to  me.  I  accordingly  wrote  to  your 
mother  for  clothing,  and  for  a  book.  She  sent  them  up  as 
directed,  and  they  arrived  at  Zebulon  Marcy's,  at  Tunkhan- 
nock ;  and  there  I  found  them,  after  I  was  released.  The 
shirt  I  wore  from  home  I  repeatedly  took  off,  and  washed,  as 
well  as  I  could,  in  cold  water  and  without  soap.  As  soon  as 
I  entered  Kilborn's  house,  they  brought  me  a  razor  and  soap 
to  shave,  and  a  clean  shirt   and  pair  of  stockings ;  and  told 

*  "  They  once  asked  me  if  I  should  like  a  dish  of  coffee.  *  A  dish  of  coffee 
by  all  means/  I  answered.  They  went  to  work.  Boiling  water  in  their  iron 
pot,  to  make  it  clean,  then  emptying  it,  they  set  it  over  the  fire  to  heat.  They 
next  strewed  into  it  some  Indian-meal ;  and  when  this  was  roasted,  they  poured 
in  water ;  and  as  soon  as  it  boiled,  the  coffee  was  made.  It  was  an  agreeable 
change  for  our  green  tea." 

t  "  It  would  be  the  17th  of  July, —  my  birthday. 


t 

LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKEEING.  389 

me  I  was  at  liberty.     They  roasted  some  chickens,  and  gave 
me  as  good  a  dinner  as  the  poor  wretches  could  furnish. 

"While  dinner  was  preparing,  they  renewed  their  request, 
that  I  would  intercede  for  Franklin's  pardon.  This  I  again 
peremptorily  refused  to  do.  Then  they  made  the  same  re- 
quest for  themselves  ;  and  I  again  told  them  I  could  venture 
to  assure  them  of  pardons,  if  they  would  give  me  the  names 
of  their  '  great  men  '  who  had  instigated  them  to  commit  the 
outrage  I  had  endured  at  their  hands.  They  consulted  to- 
gether for  some  time  ;  and  finally  told  me  they  could  not 
give  up  their  names.  '  This  (I  said  to  them)  is  a  very  un- 
wise determination.  Here  are  two-and-twenty  of  you  (I  had 
counted  them)  who  may  all  obtain  pardon,  if  you  will  give 
me  the  names  of  your  employers ;  and  among  so  many,  some 
one  at  least,  to  save  himself,  will  turn  State's  evidence  ;  you 
had  better  therefore  give  me  the  names  of  the  men  who  have 
engaged  you  in  this  wicked  business.'  '  Whoever  does  it 
(said  Gideon  Dudley)  ought  to  go  to  hell,  and  be  damned 
everlastingly.' 

"  They  made  a  last  request,  that  I  would  write  a  petition 
for  them  to  the  Executive  Council,  praying  for  pardons,  and, 
carrying  it  with  me  to  AVilkesbarre,  take  an  oj)portunity  to 
send  it  to  Philadelphia.  With  this,  undeserving  as  they  were, 
I  complied. 

"  It  was  now  late  in  the  afternoon  ;  and  unless  I  went  to 
Tmikhannock  (distant  twelve  miles)  that  night,  I  could  not 
reach  home  the  next  day.  They  had  a  good  boat  in  which 
they  carried  me  down.  It  was  dark  when  they  landed.  I 
had  only  set  my  foot  on  shore,  when  the  two  Earls  came  to 
me  aside,  and  offered  to  become  evidences  for  the  State  upon 
an  assurance  of  pardon.  This  I  ventured  to  give  them  :  but 
the  rogues,  when  brought  before  the  court,  divulged  none  of 
the  names  of  their  '  great  men ; '  and  reluctantly  furnished 
any  evidence  against  their  companions. 

"  Walking  from  the  landing-place  about  a  mile,  across  the 
Tunkhannock  bottom  land,  we  arrived  at  the  house  of  Zebu- 
Ion  i\Iarcy,  to  get  supper  and  lodging.  There  I  found  the 
bundle  of  clothing  which  your  mother  had  sent  up  for  me ; 
and  there,  also,  I  found  an  inhabitant  of  Pittstown,  going 


390  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

down  the  river  as  far  as  Lachawaimock  Creek.  And  Tuttle, 
one  of  the  '  Boys,'  said  he  would  go  down  with  ns,  and  take 
his  chance.  The  next  morning  we  three  set  off  in  a  canoe. 
Landing  the  man  destined  for  Lachawannock,  the  other  went 
on  with  me  to  Wilkesbarre.  On  the  way,  he  told  me  that 
he  had  joined  the  'Boys'  but  two  or  three  days  before,  in 
order  to  discover  where  I  was,  and  get  me  rescued  out  of 
their  hands. 

"  Step23ing  ashore  at  Wilkesbarre,  I  walked  directly  to  our 
house.  You  were  standing  at  the  front-door.  As  I  drew 
near,  you  looked  a  moment,  appeared  frightened,  and  re- 
tired. Before  I  reached  the  door,  yoar  mother  came,  with 
Edward  in  her  arms.  Consternation  marked  her  countenance, 
as  if  I  had  been  an  apparition.  My  return  so  soon  was  wholly 
unexpected ;  and  she  looked  at  me,  as  if  to  satisfy  herself  of 
the  reality." 

The  accuracy  of  Colonpl  Pickering's  memory,  as  to 
the  details  in  the  narrative,  given  in  1818,  of  this  extra- 
ordinary transaction,  the  body  of  which  has  now  been 
presented,  is  remarkably  evinced  by  letters  written  at 
and  immediately  after  the  time.  He  speaks  of  his  having 
been  allowed  to  send  to  his  wife  for  certain  necessary 
articles.  In  some  way  the  materials  for  writing  were 
provided,  and  the  letter  is  found  among  his  manuscripts. 
The  paper  and  ink  were  of  so  poor  a  quality,  that  it  is 
with  difficulty  that  it  can  be  deciphered.  The  circum- 
stances under  which  it  was  composed  invest  it  with  in- ' 
terest,  and  it  is,  in  every  way,  a  characteristic  document. 
The  name  of  the  place  where  it  was  written  was,  as 
usual,  given  with  the  date,  but  thoroughly  obliterated. 
His  captors  were  too  cautious  to  allow  it  to  stand,  and 
he,  no  doubt,  was  entirely  willing  not  to  have  their  kind- 
ness, in  suffering  him  to  make  the  communication  lead 
to  their  exposure. 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  391 

"July  3d,  1788. 

"My  Dear  Beckey, 

"  I  hoped,  ere  this,  to  have  reheved  your  anxiety  in  some 
degree,  by  informing  you  that  I  was  alive  and  welL  We 
marched  all  the  night,  and  the  next  day,  after  I  was  taken ; 
and,  as  one  half  of  the  time  it  was  through  pathless  woods, 
3'ou  may  suppose  I  was  not  a  little  fatigued.  In  tliis  I  have 
since  had  no  reason  to  complain.  I  have  constantly  lodged  in 
the  woods,  sometimes  in  the  open  air,  but  generally  under  a 
shelter  of  bushes,  at  one  time  covered  with  bark  which  kept 
us  from  the  rain.  I  know  not  how  long  I  may  be  in  such  a 
situation,  and  shall  therefore  mention  a  few  articles  necessary 
to  render  it  more  tolerable ;  but  send  nothing  else,  as  more 
would  be  burthensome  in  mv  movable  condition.  Thouo'h, 
excepting  two  days,  when  we  had  venison,  my  constant  food 
has  been  fried  salt  pork  and  bread,  with  water  for  my  drink, 
yet  I  am  in  perfect  health  ;  and  as  I  eat  tliis  food  with  appetite, 
I  desire  you  to  send  no  article  of  diet,  except  one  pound  of 
chocolate  and  a  pound  of  sugar. 

"  You  must  certainlv  understand  that  I  was  taken  and  am 
detained  for  the  purpose  of  redeeming  Franklin  from  jail. 
Had  he  been  liberated  lately  on  bail,  they  say  this  difficulty 
would  not  have  arisen ;  some  would  be  satisfied  with  less, 
some  with  more.  While  one  would  be  contented  if  he  were 
bailed,  on  condition  of  his  residing  in  Connecticut  or  else- 
where, out  of  this  State,  another  desires  that  he  may  be 
bailed  at  large.  At  the  same  time  it  is  suggested  that  his 
leading  friends  here  did  not  intend  he  should  reside  in  this 
county,  had  he  been  liberated  when  Perkins  went  with  the 
bail-bond  to  Philadelphia.  What  steps  the  government  will 
take  1  know  not ;  but  in  considering  the  means  of  my  redemp- 
tion  they  will  doubtless  consult  the  dignity  and  safety  of  the 
State.  This  may  prolong  my  confinement,  and  consequently 
add  to  your  distress  and  mine ;  but,  my  dear,  we  cannot  ex- 
pect that  the  dignity  and  safety  of  the  State  should  be  sacri- 
ficed to  the  interests  of  an  individual  family.  I  beg  you, 
therefore,  to  resume  that  patience  and  fortitude  which  you 
have  so  often  manifested,  and  trust  to  that  kind  and  wise 
Providence,  under  whicli  we  have  hitherto  been  preserved. 


o 


92  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY-  PICKERING. 


for  my  deliverance  from  my  present  confinement.  For  my 
own  part,  I  feel  resigned  to  my  fate,  as  it  was  undeserved 
from  the  hands  of  man^  especially  of  the  people  of  this  county, 
whom,  as  a  body,  I  have  uniformly  striven  to  serve,  in  every 
thing  consistent  with  justice  and  with  prudence.  My  captors 
and  keepers  have  repeatedly  said  I  should  be  well  used ;  but 
used  as  Franklin  has  been.  Accordingly,  this  day  my  fet- 
ters were  put  on.  My  keepers  discovered  some  feeling  on 
this  occasion,  and  apologized  for  putting  me  in  chains,  by  say- 
ing. Such  ivere  their  orders.  In  other  respects  I  live  as  they 
do.  They  are  civil ;  and  take  pains  to  make  me  as  comfort- 
able as  my  situation  will  admit. 

''  The  following  articles  I  wish  to  have  sent  me,  as  early  as 
may  be,  viz. :  My  old  camlet  cloak,  two  pairs  of  my  strong- 
est worsted  stockings,  one  shirt,  one  coarse  pocket-handker- 
chief, one  coarse  towel,  half  a  pound  of  soap,  half  a  quire  of 
paper,  two  quills,  my  penknife,  my  leathern  gloves,  needle, 
thread,  and  worsted  yarn  (the  thread  to  darn  my  fustian 
trowsers),  one  pound  of  chocolate  and  one  pound  of  sugar. 
To  these  add  Dr.  Price's  sermons,  which  I  was  lately  reading 
to  you  and  Betsey.  All  these  may  be  put  into  a  strong  bag, 
which  will  make  a  pack  convenient  to  carry  at  the  back  ;  and 
to  sling  it,  send  me  four  yards  of  the  strong  yellow  binding. 
I  forgot  shoes.  Send  my  strongest  pair.  Send  also  a  small- 
toothed  comb. 

"  Our  friend  Mr.  Hodgdon  will  be  anxious  to  learn  what  is 
my  condition.  For  his  information  send  him  such  extracts 
from  this  letter,  as  you  think  proper. 

"  If  I  had  time  I  should  send  some  particular  directions 
about  my  farming  business  ;  but  I  must  wait  another  convey- 
ance, lest  I  lose  the  present.  God  preserve  you  !  Give  my 
love  to  your  sister,  and  kiss  our  dear  boys  for  me.  Ever 
yours,  ^  ^ 

"TrVIOTHY   PiCKEEING. 

"P.  S.  If  Mr.  Bowman  is  at  leisure,  perhaps  he  may  hke 
to  see  the  countr}'',  as  far  as  Tunkhaunock,  and  bring  the 
things  I  send  for.  If  not,  send  them  by  some  trusty  hand, 
who  knows  the  way  ;  and  let  them  be  left  at  Zebulon  Marcy's. 
But  do  not  send  William  Darton,  who  must  attend  to  my 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  393 

farming  business.     My  keepers  say  the.  things  shall  be  safely 
brought  to  me  from  ]Mr.  Marcy's. 

"  Having  a  little  more  time,  I  add.  Let  Darton  see  that 
all  my  hay  be  cut  in  season,  and  all  the  grain  before  it  is  too 
ripe.  Mr.  Roberts,  at  Mill  Creek,  told  me  he  had  a  proper 
cradling  scythe,  and  would  be  glad  to  assist  me  in  harvesting. 
If  Darton  wants  help,  let  him  get  him,  or  whom  he  can. 
Roberts  said  he  could  cradle  four  acres  in  a  day.  I  do  not 
know  what  share  I  am  to  have  of  the  wheat  that  Asa  Bennet 
has  sowed  on  my  meadow  lot ;  but  Xathan  Waller  knows 
what  was  the  original  agreement,  and  let  Darton  ask  him.  I 
rather  think  it  will  be  best  to  receive  my  share  as  it  stands  on 
the  ground.  Let  the  grass  be  cut  when  dry,  and  put  in  small 
grass  cocks  the  same  day,  to  stand  till  they  are  dry  enough  to 
be  doubled  or  trebled,  and  then  to  stand  till  brought  home 
and  stacked.  The  hay  stacks  I  would  have  made  at  the 
southern  end  of  the  barn-yard,  next  the  fence,  and  the  stacks 
of  grain  along  the  eastern  side,  next  the  fence.  Before  I  left 
home  I  saw  some  grass  at  the  lower  end  of  my  flat,  ^\hich 
wanted  cutting.  Let  Darton  look  to  the  meadow  by  Wick- 
heyser's,  and  have  it  mowed  in  season.  If  he  has  not  time, 
he  may  get  Wickheyser  to  cut  and  make  it,  and  stack  it  on 
the  spot,  near  Wickheyser's  sheds. 

"  William  George,  I  suj^pose,  is  with  you.  Let  him  and 
Timothy,  every  morning,  search  for  worms  among  the  beans 
and  other  things,  or,  I  fear,  you  will  not  have  vegetables  for 
the  family.  In  the  field  are  several  vacant  beds,  which  I 
would  have  set  with  cabbage  plants,  one  row  along  the  mid- 
dle of  each  bed,  and  the  plants  eighteen  inches  apart ;  except 
one  or  two  of  the  beds,  which  will  be  wanted  when  the  celery 
is  fit  to  transplant.  Near  the  rye  in  the  home  field  is  some 
ground  not  planted  or  sowed.  If  Darton  thinks  it  is  not  too 
late,  he  may  plant  it  with  the  common  potato ;  otherwise 
sow  turnip-seed  in  all  the  hills,  and  in  all  the  vacant  corn 
hills  ;  or  he  may  set  such  vacant  hills  with  cabbage  plants,  of 
wliich  I  left  two  parcels  in  the  garden.  If  there  should  arrive 
any  scythes  fi'om  ^liddletown,  and  a  cradling  scythe  or  two 
among  them,  Darton  may  hang  one,  or  both  if  he  pleases." 


394  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

The  minute  directions  given  to  Darton  show  how  an- 
noying and  injurious  his  sudden  removal  from  home  and 
his  farm  at  that  season  must  have  been.  The  calm, 
patient,  and  patriotic  spirit  pervading  this  letter  is  quite 
observable.  There  are.  no  indications  of  petulance  or 
irritation.  He  perfectly  subordinates,  and  demonstrates 
an  entire  willingness  to  sacrifice,  his  own  personal  in- 
terests, remain  in  chains,  and  be  bereft  of  comfort, 
liberty,  and,  if  necessary,  life  itself,  rather  than  have 
"  the  dignity  and  safety  of  the  State  "  endangered. 

It  is  curious  to  notice  the  state  of  feeling  which  arose 
between  him  and  his  captors.  When  they  first  seized 
him,  they  were  all,  without  doubt,  filled  with  the  bitter- 
est prejudice  and  hatred  towards  him.  Some  were  dis- 
posed to  savage  brutality.  He  had  long  been  the  object 
of  their  most  violent  animosity,  as  the  representative  of 
the  government  against  which  they  were  in  rebellion,  as 
their  most  formidable  opponent,  and  especially  for  having 
personally  aided  in  the  apprehension  of  their  leader,  and 
sending  him  to  prison,  where  he  still  lay.  Occasionally, 
during  the  first  day  or  two,  there  were  expressions  of 
such  feelings,  and  once,  at  least,  an  outbreak  of  even 
murderous  passion  towards  him.  But  soon  a  change 
came  over  their  sentiments.  These  rough  and  fierce 
outlaws  became  kind,  respectful,  and  even  tender  in  th^ir 
treatment  of  him  and  demeanor  towards  him.  The  un- 
complaining readiness  with  which  he  met  his  condition, 
the  hardihood  with  which  he  endtired  privation,  his  firm- 
ness, patience,  and  all  manly  traits  of  character,  insensibly 
but  constantly  wrought  upon  them. 

A  similar  change  took  place  in  him.  At  the  time,  all 
the  while,  and  ever  after,  he  expressed  his  abhorrence  of 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  395 

their  crime,  in  breaking  into  the  recesses  of  his  dwelhng 
at  midnight,  armed  and  with  blackened  faces,  ordering  him 
out  of  his  bed,  pinioning  his  arms,  hurrying  him  into  the 
woods,  and  continuing  for  weeks  such  an  outrage  upon 
his  person  and  Uberty.  But  he  became  convinced  that 
they  were  the  victims  of  ignorance,  delusion,  and  influ- 
ence :  led  by  others  who  had  acquired  entire  control  over 
their  sentiments  and  actions  ;  and  therefore,  to  some  ex- 
tent, to  be  regarded  with  pity  and  charity,  as  misguided, 
rather  than  wicked,  men.  He  evidently  took  pleasure  in 
recording  their  acts  of  civility  and  kindness  toward  him, 
when  their  own  better  feelings  w^ere  brought  into  opera- 
tion ;  and  was  willing  to  pardon  them,  and,  if  found  con- 
sistent with  the  public  good,  to  have  them  pardoned  by 
the  authorities. 

The  instance  illustrates  in  general  the  motives  and  in- 
fluences that  sway  and  modify  human  nature,  but  espe- 
cially a  prominent  characteristic  of  Colonel  Pickering 
through  life.  Xo  man  was  ever  less  a  demagogue  ;  but 
he  loved  the  people,  the  common  people,  even  those  of 
the  roughest  caste.  He  never  had  a  particle  of  pride. 
He  never  paid  or  affected  homage  to  what  is  called 
"  greatness."  He  recognized  and  felt  the  brotherhood  of 
all  mankind.  He  kept  his  heart  for  ever  in  sympathy 
with  all  inferior  to  him  in  position  and  culture.  He 
honored  merit  alone,  and  equally  in  all  conditions.  This 
was  deeply  rooted  among  his  convictions  of  truth  and 
duty,  and  w^as  manifest  to  all  in  his  actions,  language, 
and  manners.  He  discerned,  and  responded  to,  what 
was  commendable,  even  in  the  most  forbidding  forms  of 
humanity.  Hence,  not  only  the  wild  backwoods-men 
of  Wyoming,  ruffians  to  him,  as  they  had  been  beguiled 


396  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

to  be,  but  all  of  what  are  considered  the  rudest  and  low- 
est classes  of  the  community,  laborers  and  dependants 
of  all  sorts,  when  brought  into  contact  with  him,  were 
invariably  draw^n  towards  him  in  confidence  and  attach- 
ment. 

The  historical  painter,  only  so  far  using  the  license  of 
an  artist  as  to  suppose  that  the  package  for  which  Colonel 
Pickering  sent  had  reached  him  wdiile  still  held  in  fetters 
in  the  w^oods,  can  hardly  find  a  more  striking  subject  for 
his  pencil  than  the  Eoman  Puritan  chained  to  a  tree  in 
the  deep  forest,  his  armed  captors  sentinels  around  him, 
and  he  sitting  on  the  ground  or  on  some  fallen  trunk, 
in  his  fustian  jacket,  reading  "  Price's  Sermons." 

A  few  wrecks  after  returning  to  his  family,  Colonel 
Pickering  wTote  a  letter  to  his  brother,  giving  an  account 
of  his  abduction.  It  corresponds  fully  with  the  narrative 
prepared  in  1818.  After  speaking  of  John  Franklin  in 
the  severest  terms,  he  says  of  him,  that  he  "  is  possessed 
of  some  art,  and  of  bravery  to  desperation.  He  had 
signalized  himself  in  defending  the  country  against  the 
invasions  of  the  Indians  in  the  late  war,  and  had  taken 
the  lead  of  the  settlement  since  the  peace.  And  the 
dangerous  insurrection  in  Massachusetts,  under  Shays, 
will  convince  you  how  much  mischief  may  be  done  by 
one  desperate  man  and  a  few  assistants  in  a  united  and 
well-ordered  government,  as  was  that  of  Massachusetts; 
and  that  it  must  be  infinitely  easier  for  a  similar  charac- 
ter to  raise  a  tumult  in  this  county.  A  few  days  before 
Franklin  was  apprehended,  he  had  the  desperate  bold- 
ness to  send  orders  in  writing  (in  which  he  styled  him- 
self Colonel-Commandant)  to  his  adherents,  to  assemble 
on  the  9th  of  October  last,  with  arms  and  ammunition, 


LIFE   or   TDIOTHY   PICKERING,  397 

at  a  certain  place,  for  there,  says  he,  "  the  Pennsylvania 
Loyalists  are  to  hold  an  election  of  militia  officers,  ivhich 
we  are  determined  to  prevent.'' 

In  this  letter  to  his  brother,  he  further  says :  '*  The 
ruffians  who  lately  seized  me  were  fifteen  in  number, 
thirteen  of  them  painted  like  savages.  Five  others 
joined  them  after  they  had  carried  me  thirty  miles  up 
the  river.  But  thev  found  themselves  deserted  bv  their 
principals,  the  men  who  had  drawn  them  into  the  com- 
mission of  this  act  of  violence." 

He  avers  that  persons  under  the  influence  of  Franklin, 
instigated  by  the  Connecticut  Company, "  have  been  the 
instruments  of  all  the  outrages  which  have  been  com- 
mitted since  1  have  been  here.  The  late  act  of  vio- 
lence upon  me,  however,  seems  to  have  sickened  them. 
Those  of  the  party  actually  engaged  who  have  not  been 
taken  or  killed,  are  dispersed  and  have  fled,  and  are 
flying  in  different  directions,  out  of  the  State." 

Among  his  manuscripts.  Vol.  Iviii.,  Xo.  45,  is  a  very 
curious  and  characteristic  document,  —  a  journal  cover- 
ing the  period  of  his  captivity,  on  a  quarter  of  a  sheet 
of  post  paper,  written  in  so  small  a  hand  that  it  is  very 
difficult  to  decipher.  The  following  is  a  copy  made  out 
by  his  son,  Octavius.  It  was  written,  as  stated  (Jovis), 
in  the  open  air,  and  while  in  the  woods.  Even  there, 
as  ever,  he  was  on  the  search  for  information  as  to 
agricultural  matters,  and,  no  doubt,  his  captors  were 
flattered  and  conciliated  by  his  seeking  and  receiving  it 
from  them.  This  document,  from  its  intrinsic  interest, 
is  worthy  of  preservation ;  but  it  is  given  to  the  reader 
of  this  Biography  for  an  additional  and  special  reason. 
Colonel  Pickering's  vast    accumulation  of  manuscripts 


398  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

filled  many  large  chests.  From  his  frequent  change  of 
residence,  they  remained  thus  stowed  away.  As  he  was  for 
so  much  of  his  time  absent  from  homt^,  and  so  occupied 
with  out  of  door  labors  when  there,  he  never  had  leisure 
or  opportunity  to  arrange  them,  and,  not  being  able  to 
refer  to  them  readily,  did  not  often  attempt  it.  It  is  quite 
certain  that,  in  preparing  the  account  of  his  Wyoming 
adventures  for  his  son  Henry,  in  1818,  he  made  no  use 
of  the  following  journal,  or  of  his  letter  to  his  wife  while 
in  captivity.  The  narrative  drawn  up  in  1818  was 
almost  wholly  from  memory.  A  comparison  of  it  with 
these  two  original  papers,  written  at  the  time,  demon- 
strates the  remarkable  accuracy  of  his  reminiscences, 
even  to  the  minutest  details,  and  thus  justifies  the  high- 
est confidence  in  the  reliability  of  his  statements,  as  to 
the  events  and  personal  experiences  described  or  referred 
to  by  him,  in  extracts  from  his  letters  or  other  docu- 
ments written  long  subsequent  to  them,  scattered  through 
these  volumes :  — 

"  Jovis^  26th  of  June,  '88.  Travelling  all  night,  and  Fri- 
day, late  P.M.,  reached  Eaii's,  above  Tunkhannock.  Friday 
night  in  the  Avoods.  Saturday,  travelled  two  and  a  half 
hours,  and  pitched  in  the  woods.  Sunday  29th,  30th,  and  July 
1st  [T.]  marched  two  or  three  hours ;  lay  in  the  woods  ; 
open  air.  Wednesday  2d,  marched  one  hour,  and  pitched  in 
woods  ;  3d,  ibid.,  received  pen,  ink,  paper,  to  write  to  my  wife. 
Keepers  said  they  had  orders  to  supply  me  for  that  jDurpose, 
or  to  write  to  Philadelphia,  if  I  chose.  Wrote  to  my  wife  for 
camlet  cloak,  two  pairs  worsted  hose,  one  shirt,  one  pocket- 
handkerchief,  one  towel,  needle,  thread,  yarn,  leather  gloves, 
four  3^ards  yellow  binding,  a  bag,  half  pound  soap,  one  pound 
sugar,  half-quire  paper,  shoes,  two  quills,  penknife.  Doctor 
Price'S|Sermons,  fine  comb.  4th  July,  ibid.,  the  Anniversary  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  !  the  birthda}^  of  American 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  399 

freedom !  All  America  rejoicing,  but  T  am  in  chains  !  !  !  It 
began  to  rain  this  morning,  and  is  likely  to  continue  all  day. 
Covered  our  bush  roof  with  bark,  which  kept  dry.  p.m., 
fair.  B.  Earl,  about  noon,  went  to  get  provisions,  and  re- 
turned without  any.  He  informed  that  he  called  at  E.  Tyler's, 
when  Mrs.  Tyler  told  him  the  High-Sheriff,  with  Doctor  Hop- 
kins and  about  eighteen  men,  had  met  with  three  of  the  boys, 
and  exchanged  some  shots,  in  which  Gideon  Dudley  was 
wounded  in  the  hand,  and  had  his  rifle-stock  split  in  pieces, 
and  William  Ross  was  shot  through  the  body,  and  fell,  and 
was  carried  into  Wigton's.  The  engagement  at  Mishoppen 
Creek  with  Gideon  Dudley,  John  Whitcomb,  and  William 
Phelps"  [it  was  Noah  Phelps].  "  Saturday,  July  5th,  fair 
morn.  T.  Kilborn  returned  from  Tyler's  ;  savs  Mr.  Ross  was 
taken  down  in  a  canoe  for  Wilkesbarre,  but  was  not  expected 
to  live  to  reach  that  place. 

*'  J^^  D.  Taylor  saj^  s  that  sows  should  be  very  moderately 
fed  after  pigging  the  first  week,  or  they  will  get  cloyed,  and 
not  eat  well,  and  their  pigs  will  never  get  fat.  Oxen  con- 
tinue to  grow  till  six  or  seven  years  old,- — often  worked  in 
Connecticut  till  twelve  years  old.  They  plough  among  corn 
with  oxen,  but  with  a  long  yoke,  and  the  staple  not  in  the 
middle,  so  as  better  to  avoid  hurting  the  corn  with  the  chain. 
No  driver  necessary  when  oxen  are  well  broken.  Price  of  an 
ox-cart  complete  in  Connecticut,  £5  lawful  money.  He  says 
heifers  often  have  their  first  calves  at  two  vears  old,  —  but 
then  go  farrow  the  next  year. 

"  July  5th,  P.M. — Small  showers.  Left  our  camp,  and 
marched  near  Tyler's,  across  the  river,  and  lay  in  the  woods. 

"Sunday,  July  6. — This  morning  wrote  to  Mrs.  Pickering, 
dating  it  July  3d,  the  other  of  that  date  having  been  detained 
by  the  party,  some  of  whom  excepted  to  some  expressions  in 
it.  Had  plenty  of  milk  brought  me  for  my  breakfast.  Then 
marched  into  the  woods  four  or  five  miles,  and  encamped  by 
a  fine  spring  near  Little  Mehoopenny  Creek,  and  not  far  from 
the  middle  one  of  three  wild  meadows,  a.m.,  fair  ;  p.m., 
towards  evening,  thunder  with  considerable  rain.  Monday, 
July  7th,  fair.  Moved  our  camp  a  mile  northerly.  P.M.,  to- 
wards evening,  thunder  with  showers.     Tuesday,  Jul}^  8th, 


400  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

fair ;  r.:M.,  tlmiKler  with  some  rain.  Shifted  our  quarters, 
and  marched  back  near  to  the  river,  within  a  mile  of  Kilborn's  ; 
received  tlience  milk  for  supper.  Wednesday,  July  9th, 
cloudy  (sent  a  large  wooden  spoon  and  butter-spoon  to 
Kilborn's,  to  be  sent  thence  to  my  wife),  rain  in  the  forenoon. 
p.  M.,  fair,  and  then  rain ;  milk  for  supper.  No  meat  to-day. 
Thursda}^  July  10th,  rain  before  daylight.  Gave  Woodward 
a  letter,  dated  yesterday,  to  forward  to  my  wife.  Desired 
her  to  send  me  a  small  tin  kettle  with  a  cover.  Woodward 
returned ;  says  my  things  are  at  Marcy's,  with  a  letter  for  me. 
After  the  morning,  fair  and  pleasant,  T.  Kilborn  showed  me 
the  twig  of  a  tree,  whose  bark  is  a  ver}^  agreeable  bitter.  He 
says  there  are  many  large  trees  of  it  on  the  flat  by  his  father's, 
and  that  they  have  used  it  in  timber  for  j)art  of  Sill's  house- 
frame,  —  a  soft  wood  :  it  is  called  winter  bark.  No  meat ;  but 
butter  to  eat  with  bread;  ginseng  at  our  encam^^ment,  in 
the  deep  shades  of  hemlock  woods.  Query,  if  cultivated, 
whether  it  might  not  be  under  the  shade  of  trees  in  an  orchard 
or  garden.  The  flowers  come  out  of  the  stem  at  the  centre 
of  three  branches,  as  the  May  apple  does  where  the  stem 
branches,  the  buds  now  just  opening.  Each  branch  has 
five  leaves,  three  of  them  of  a  size,  the  other  two  not  half 
so  large.  Woodward  brought  me  a  letter,  dated  the  8th,  from 
Mr.  Bowman,  informing  of  the  health  of  the  family,  and  that 
the  articles  I  requested  are  sent  to  Marcy's. 

"  Friday,  July  11th,  fair.  Moved  our  camj)  about  four  miles 
from  the  river,  west  of  Kilborn's,  and  about  a  mile  over  Mehoo- 
penny  Creek.  Pork  to-day,  and  what  the  guard  call  coffee^  — 
i.e.,  a  crust  of  wheat-bread  toasted  very  brown,  not  burnt, 
and  then  boiled  in  water,  which  is  then  sweetened.  'Tis  very 
tolerable  drink.  Woodward  has  been  in  Vermont  and  west- 
ern parts  of  Massachusetts,  where  are  beech  and  hemlock 
woods.  He  says  they  find  the  hemlock  land  the  strongest. 
That,  in  Massachusetts,  such  land  produces  flax  fifteen  inches 
taller  than  any  he  has  seen  on  the  flats  of  Wyoming,  but  that 
the  same  land  was  too  cold  for  Indian-corn,  but  excellent  for 
grass  and  wheat.  That,  in  Vermont,  the  practice  is,  when  you 
hire  to  get  an  acre  cut  down  (except  ten  trees  which,  being 
largest,  are  only  girded),  and  cut  into  lengths,  the  biggest 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  401 

sixteen,  the  smaller  ones  eighteen  or  twenty  feet  lengths,  and 
the  limbs  all  lopped  off,  for  four  or  five  dollars.  That  is 
done  as  soon  as  may  be  after  planting.  That  the  whole  lies 
in  this  condition  a  year,  and  then,  in  time  for  sowing  winter 
wheat,  fire  is  put  to  it,  which  consumes  all  the  limbs,  and  then 
the  logs  are  hauled  into  heaps  with  one  yoke  of  oxen,  and 
burnt;  then  the  wheat  is  sowed  and  harrowed  in.  The 
cro]D,  twenty  to  twenty-five  bushels  an  acre.  Hemlock  (he 
says),  after  laying  thus  to  dry  one  year,  burns  up  much 
cleaner  than  beech  and  maple.  Fences  made  with  logs,  or  the 
young  hemlock  cut  into  lengths,  and  piled  into  a  worm. 
(Query,  if  these  round  rails  would  not  last  much  longer  if 
stripped  of  their  bark.) 

"  Saturday,  July  12th.  Fair,  with  wind.  Winter-green 
tea  last  evening  with  supper,  and  this  morning  with  break- 
fast.    P.M.,  thunder  with  rain,  then  fair.     Two  meals  to-day. 

"  Sunday,  July  13th.  Cloudy,  with  intervening  sunshine. 
P.M.,  rainy  ;  no  bread  or  meat,  and,  of  course,  eat  nothing 
till  bread  arrived  about  one  or  two  P.M.  Learn  that  Mr. 
Kilborn  stays  at  Wyoming,  and  the  Sill's  house-frame  and  tim- 
ber are  rafted  down  for  him  to  finish  there.  Tim  said,  a  day  or 
two  since,  that  he  heard  his  dad  had  turned  State's  evidence."* 

".Monday,  July  14th.     Fair. 

"  Tuesday,  July  loth.     Fair." 

It  may  well  be  imagined  that  great  indignation  was 
everywhere  felt  at  the  outrage  upon  Colonel  Pickering, 
and  universal  relief  experienced  on  hearing  of  his  safety 
and  return  to  his  family.  Letters  were  written  by  friends 
from  all  quarters,  of  which  the  following  extract  from 
Henry  Prinker,  a  leading  Quaker  in  Philadelphia,  may 
serve  as  a  specimen  :  — 

"  14th  8  Mo.,  1788. 

"  Esteemed  Friexd, 
"  As  I  felt  much  sympathy  and  real  concern  on  hearing  of 
thy  being  so  cruelly  torn  and  separated  from  thy  family  and 

*  Timothy  Kilborn,   son  of  Joseph  Kilborn,  was  one  of  the  gang  that  ab- 
ducted Colonel  rickeruig  and  held  him  in  captivity. 
Vol.  II.  26 


402  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

tender  connections  ;  so  I  may,  with  much  sincerity,  congrat- 
ulate thee  and  them  on  thy  safe  return  after  a  time  of  such 
severe  trial ;  thy  delivery  and  releasement  having  been  to 
myself  and,  I  believe,  to  many  others,  occasion  of  much  re- 
joicing." 

Upon  hearing  of  his  seizure  and  captivity,  the  Coun- 
cil of  Pennsylvania  ordered  out  the  militia  to  scour  the 
country  in  pursuit  of  the  banditti,  and  to  rescue  their 
prisoner. 

The  following  proclamation  was  issued  in  the  German 
as  well  as  the  English  language :  — 

(State  Seal.) 

"  Pennsylvania,  ss. 

By  the    Vice-President    mid    the    Supreme  Executive 
Council  of  the  Commonivealth  of  Pennsylvania. 

A    P  E  O  C  L  A  M  A  T  I  O  N. 

WHEREAS  by  depositions  taken  according  to  law,  it 
appears  that  several  evil-disposed  persons  have  con- 
spired to  obstruct  the  execution  of  the  laws  in  the  County  of 
Luzerne,  and  have  violently  seized  and  carried  off  the  person 
of  Tin^thy  Pickering,  Esquire,  an  officer  of  government, 
whom  they  still  retain  as  a  prisoner  :  ■ — AXD  WHEREAS  it 
is  of  great  importance  to  the  good  people  of  this  Common- 
wealth that  such  heinous  offenders  should  be  brought  to  con- 
dign punishment :  —  WE  have  thought  fit  to  offer,  and  do 
herebv  offer,  a  Public  Reward  of  Three  Hundred  Dol- 
LARS  for  apprehending  and  securing  John  Jenkins  ;  Three 
Hundred  Dollars,  for  apprehending  and  securing  John 
Hyde,  and  the  sum  of  One  Hundred  Dollars,  for  ap- 
prehending and  securing  each  and  every  of  the  follow- 
ing named  persons,  viz. :  —  Daniel  Earl,  Benjamin  Earl, 
Cady,  Wilkes  Jeiikins,  Josejjh  Dudley,  Gideon  Dud- 
ley^ David  Woodivard,  John  Whitcomb,  Timothy  Kilhurne, 
and  Thomas  Kinney ;  or  for  apprehending  and  securing 
any  other  persons  who  shall  be  convicted  of  aiding  and 
assisting   in   taking   off  the  said   Timothy  Pickering  —  the 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  403 

reward  for  apprehending  and  securing  any  of  the  above- 
named  persons  will  be  paid  on  their  being  delivered  to  the 
jail  of  the  County  of  Northampton  :  —  And  all  Judges,  Jus- 
tices, Sheriffs,  and  Constables  are  hereby  strictly  enjoined 
and  required  to  make  diligent  search  and  enquiry  after,  and 
to  use  their  utmost  endeavors  to  apprehend  and  secure  the 
said  offenders,  so  that  they  mny  be  dealt  with  according  to 
law. 

"  GIVEN  in  Council,  under  the  hand  of  the  Honorable 
Peter  Muhlenberg,  Esquire,  Vice-President,  and  the 
Seal  of  the  State,  at  Philadelphia,  this  eighth  day  of  July,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty- 
eight. 

"  Peter  Muhlenberg. 

'Attest  Charles  Biddlt:,  Secretary." 

The  Council  also  addressed,  through  the  Vice-Presi- 
dent, who,  by  the  then  existing  Constitution  of  that 
State,  was  its  Chief  Executive  ^lagistrate,  the  Dele- 
gates of  Pennsylvania  in  Congress,  then  in  session  at 
New  York,  asking  for  troops  in  aid  of  the  militia. 
When,  however,  the  rioters  were  apprehended  or  dis- 
persed, their  President,  by  order  of  the  Council,  made 
the  following  communication  to  Congress  :  — 

"In  Council,  Philadelphia,  August  6th,  1788. 

"  Gentle^ien, 

"  By  direction  of  the  board,  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you, 
that  we  have  this  morning,  by  express,  received  letters  from 
Colonel  Pickering  and  the  other  officers  of  government  in  the 
county  of  Luzerne.  From  these  it  appears  that  matters  have 
taken  a  more  favorable  turn  than  was  at  first  apprehended. 
Colonel  Pickering  was  liberated  by  the  insurgents  on  the  16th 
of  July,  and  the  men  who  carried  him  off,  are  now  by  their 
petition  j)raying  Council  to  grant  them  a  pardon.  The  proc- 
lamation issued  by  the  board  has  produced  the  desired  effect. 
Two  of  the  rioters  are  now  confined  in  Easton  jail,  and  some 
others  in  that  of  Luzerne.     Several  have  been  wounded,  and 


404  LIFE  OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

Dudley,  one  of  the  most  notorious,  died  in  Luzerne  jail  of  the 
wounds  he  received.  Those  of  the  rioters  who  still  remain 
are  dispersed,  and  seeking  refuge  on  the  lakes. 

"  From  this  change  of  affairs,  and  the  accounts  from  the 
western  waters,  which  seem  to  indicate  that  the  troops  of 
the  Union  will  be  wanted  in  that  quarter,  as  well  as  from  the 
shortness  of  the  time  limited,  for  which  the  troops  can  possi- 
bly be  spared,  and  the  consideration  that  the  chief  end  for 
which  the  application  was  made  is  already  answered,  the 
board  are  induced  to  request  you  will  be  pleased  to  inform 
the  honorable  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  that  we 
gratefully  acknowledge  the  favor  conferred  on  this  State,  by 
so  readily  granting  the  assistance  requested.  But  as  the 
emergency  has  ceased,  and  as  the  State  will  now  have  time 
to  act  deliberately,  and  as  circumstances  shall  in  future  direct, 
we  further  request  that  the  troops  of  the  Union  may  now  be 
directed  to  continue  their  route,  agreeably  to  their  first  desti- 
nation. The  board  have,  in  the  mean  time,  directed  a  Com- 
missary to  proceed  to  Easton,  to  provide  for  the  subsistence 
of  the  troops  until  further  orders." 

This  communication  was  addressed  to  "  the  Honorable 
the  Delegates  of  Pennsylvania,  in  Congress  at  New 
York,  August  12th,  1788."  That  body  disposed  of  it 
as  follows :  "  Ordered  that  the  above  letter  be  re- 
ferred to  the  Secretary  of  War,  to  take  order." 

This  may  be  considered  as  an  official  announcement 
that  law  and  order  were  permanently  established  in 
Wyoming.  That  beautiful  valley  had  been  for  thirty 
years  the  theatre  of  most  extraordinary  conflicts,  suffer- 
ings, wrongs,  and  outrages,  such  as  were  never  experi- 
enced in  any  other  part  of  America.  The  abduction  of 
Colonel  Pickering  closed  the  scene.  From  the  hour 
I  of  his  restoration,  peace  and  prosperity  have  reigned 
there. 

The  abductors  of  Colonel  Pickering,  who  had  not  fled 


LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  405 

from  the  countiy,  were  arrested,  tried,  convicted,  and 
sentenced  to  fine  and  imprisonment.  The  depositions 
of  witnesses,  and  the  papers  belonging  to  the  several 
cases,  are  very  numerous.  As  the  men  were  all  poor, 
fines  were  with  difficulty  collected.  But,  as  they  had 
committed  no  outrages  upon  the  person  of  their  cap- 
tive, except  as  connected  with  the  circumstances  of  his 
original  seizure,  depriving  him  of  his  liberty,  and  plac- 
ing him  in  bonds  and  fetters,  which  they  did  with  pain- 
ful reluctance,  in  obedience,  as  they  said,  to  their  "great 
men ;"  as  their  general  treatment  of  him  had  been  civil 
and  kind ;  and  as  thev  acknowledo:ed  their  offence  with 
penitential  petitions  for  pardon ;  but  chiefly,  because 
the  insurgent  element  had  become  eradicated  in  the 
county,  —  after  suffering  imprisonment  in  jail  for  greater 
or  less  periods  of  time,  they  were  all  ultimately  dis- 
charged, or  suffered  to  escape. 

Colonel  Pickering  draughted  petitions  for  these  men, 
which  they  severally  signed,  to  the  Supreme  Executive 
Council,  praying  for  pardon,  deeply  deploring  the  un- 
lawful and  riotous  acts  to  which  they  had  been  led  by 
persons  "  in  whose  judgment  and  advice  they  had  been 
wont  to  place  an  entire  confidence."  They  expressed 
"  heartfelt  repentance,"  and  solemnly  promised  "  their 
future  fidelity  to  the  State."  These  petitions  he  for- 
warded to  the  government. 

The  story  he  told  of  his  seizure  and  captivity,  and  of 
the  unhappy  disorders  of  which  lus  was  the  victim,  in 
his  letter  to  his  son  in  1818,  contained  two  more  pas- 
sages in  addition  to  those  already  presented. 

One  is  as  follows  :  — 


406  LIFE   OF  TIMOTIir  PICKERING. 

"  The  Sequel. 

"  Without  waiting  the  result  of  their  petition  to  the  Exec- 
utive Council,  most  of  the  actual  perpetrators  of  the  out- 
rage upon  me  fled  to  the  northward,  to  escape  into  the  State 
of  New  York.  On  their  way  as  they  reached  Wysock's 
Creek,  they  encountered  a  party  of  militia  under  the  com- 
mand of  Captain  Roswell  Franklin,  and  exchanged  some 
shots.  Joseph  Dudley  was  very  badly  wounded.  The  others 
escaped.  Dudley  was  put  into  a  canoe,  and  brought  down  to 
Wilkesbarre,  a  distance  of  perhaps  sixty  or  seventy  miles. 
The  doctor  who  was  sent  for  had  no  medicine.  I  had  a 
small  box  of  medicines  which  had  been  put  up  under  the  care 
of  my  good  friend  Doctor  Rush.  Of  these,  upon  the  applica- 
tion of  the  physician,  I  furnished  all  he  desired.  But  Dudley 
survived  only  two  or  three  days.  On  his  death,  his  friends 
sent  to  your  mother  to  beg  a  winding  sheet,  which  she  gave 
them. 

"  In  the  autumn,  a  court  of  oyer  and  terminer  was  held  at 
Wilkesbarre,  by  M'Kean,  Chief  Justice,  and  Judge  Rush. 
A  number  of  the  villains  had  been  arrested ;  were  tried  and 
convicted ;  fined  and  imprisoned  in  different  sums,  and  for 
different  lengths  of  time,  according  to  the  aggravations  of 
their  offence.  The  poor  creatures  had  no  money  to  pay  their 
fines,  and  the  new  jail  at  Wilkesbarre  was  so  insufficient,  that 
all  of  them  made  their  escape,  excepting  Stephen  Jenkins, 
brother  to  Major  John  Jenkins.  Stephen  was  not  in  arms 
with  the  party ;  but  was  concerned  in  the  plot.  He  might 
have  escaped  from  jail  with  the  others,  but  chose  to  stay ; 
and  in  consequence  received  a  pardon,  after  about  two  months' 
confinement. 

"  The  fate  of  Captain  Roswell  Franklin,  a  worthy  man 
whom  I  have  mentioned  on  the  preceding  page,  I  sincerely 
commiserated.  Wearied  with  the  disorders  and  uncertain 
state  of  things  at  Wyoming,  he  removed  with  his  family  into 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  sat  down  on  a  piece  of  land  to 
which  he  had  no  title.  Others  had  done  the  same.  The 
country  was  new,  and  without  inhabitants.  They  cleared 
land  and  raised  crops,  to  subsist  their  families  and  stock.     In 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  407 

two  or  three  j^ears,  when  all  their  crops  were  harvested,  their 
hay  and  grain  in  stack,  and  they  anticipated  passing  the 
approaching  A^'inter  comfortably.  Governor  George  Clinton 
sent  orders  to  the  sheriff  of  the  nearest  connt}^,  to  raise  the 
militia,  and  to  drive  off  the  untitled  occupants.  These 
orders  were  as  severely  as  promptly  executed ;  and  the 
houses  and  crops  all  burnt.  Reduced  to  despair.  Captain 
Franklin  shot  himself.  This,  as  well  as  I  recollect,  was  in  the 
autumn  of  1792.* 

"  Governor  Clinton  was  distinguished  for  energy  of  char- 
acter. Had  like  prompt  and  decisive  measures  been  taken  at 
the  beginning,  with  the  Connecticut  settlers  at  Wyoming,  it 
would  hav^  been  happy  for  them  and  for  Pennsylvania  ;  the 
actual  sufferers  woidd  have  been  few  in  number  ;  but  the  un- 
stable, and  generally  feeble,  measures  of  that  government,  in- 
stead of  intimidating,  rather  encouraged  hardy  men,  destitute 
of  property,  to  become  intruders ;  and  thus,  eventually,  a 
great  many  families  were  involved  in  calamities. 

''  John  Franklin,  so  often  mentioned,  having  been  indicted 
on  the  charge  of  treason,  for  which  he  had  been  arrested, 
remained  a  good  while  in  jail.  At  length  he  was  liberated 
on  giving  bonds,  with  a  large  penalty.  And  finally,  all  oppo- 
sition to  the  government  in  Luzerne  County  ceasing,  he  was 
fully  discharged.  The  people  of  the  county  afterwards  chose 
him  to  represent  them  in  the  State  legislature,  where,  in  the 
House  of  Representatives,  he  sat,  I  believe,  for  several  years. 
During  this  period,  chance,  once  or  twice,  tlirew  him  in  my 
way.     He  was  very  civil,  and  I  returned  his  civilities." 

The  conclusion  of  the  letter  is  entitled,  "  Doings  of 
the    Pennsylvania   Legislature."     He  commences  thus, 

*  The  sympathy  felt  by  the  people  of  the  neighborhood  in  the  hard  fate  of 
Captain  Roswell  Franklin,  his  sufferings  and  misfortunes,  and  the  regard  and 
affection  in  which  they  had  held  him  through  life,  led  to  a  demonstration  of 
respect  at  liis  funeral,  of  which  an  account  has  been  preserved.  This  has  led 
some  to  doubt  wliether  he  put  an  end  to  liis  life  by  his  own  hand.  But  Colonel 
Pickering,  from  his  particular  acquaintance  and  opportunities  to  know  tlie  facts, 
could  not  have  been  mistaken.  The  lionors  paid  to  the  memory  of  Captain 
Franklin  were  prompted  by  feelings  which,  all  things  considered,  wore  not  im- 
paired, but  rather  heightened,  by  the  manner  of  his  death. 


408  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  nCKERIXG. 

"  AVhile  I  was  in  exile  in  Philadelphia,  in  consequence 
'of  the  first  insurrection,  in  October,  1787,  I  was  adver- 
tised of  a  meeting  of  Pennsylvania  claimants,  and  re- 
quested to  be  present.  The  number  assembled  did  not 
exceed  ten  or  twelve."  He  goes  on  to  state  that  a  cer- 
tain "  elderly  Presbyterian  clergyman,"  "  was  one  of  the 
number,  and  the  most  zealous  for  petitioning  the  legis- 
lature, then  in  session,  to  repeal  the  confirming  law. 
The  gentlemen  in  general  appeared  to  be  opposed  to 
that  step ;  and  some  of  them  observed,  that  the  faith  of 
the  State  being  pledged,  its  honor  required  an  adherence 
to  the  provisions  of  the  confirming  law."  "  What  care  I 
for  the  lionor  of  the  State  ?  I  want  my  money,"  was, 
Colonel  Pickering  affirms,  the  precise  language  of  the 
"  Eeverend  Doctor.'"'  He  mentions  another  eminent  cleri- 
cal gentleman,  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  who  manifested  a 
similar  spirit.  They  were  both,  he  says,  men  of  talents. 
"  I  believe,"  he  continues,  "  that  but  for  these  two  rev- 
erend gentlemen  teasing  and  intriguing  with  members 
of  the  legislature,  the  confirming  law  might  have  been 
carried  into  execution,  A  few  other  persons  united  with 
them,  probably  at  their  solicitation." 

He  closes  his  letter  with  the  following  statements  and 
considerations : — 

"  The  legislature,  in  the  first  instance,  only  suspended  the 
execution  of  the  law.  But  the  next  year  (1788)  *  after  the 
enormous  outrage  committed  against  me,  —  the  expected  ef- 
fect of  which,  as  contemplated  by  the  Susquehanna  Company 
and  its  partisans,  was  defeated  by  my  patience  and  persever- 
ance, —  and  the  spirit  of  opposition  to  the  government  of 


*  Colonel  Pickering's  memory  was  at  fault,  as  to  this  date.  A  movement 
was  made  on  the  occasion,  and  at  the  time  he  mentions,  to  that  end ;  but  the 
repeahng  act  did  not  pass  until  1790. 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  409 

Pennsylvania  appeared  to  be  extinguished  ;  when,  in  a  word, 
they  thought  they  should  hazard  nothing  by  the  measure,  — 
the  legislature  repealed  the  confirming  laiu.  This  always  ap- 
peared to  me  unjust  and  cruel.  If  any^  certainly  a  very  small 
number,  of  the  Connecticut  claimants  whose  cases  were  within 
the  purview  of  the  confirming  law,  participated  in  the  insur- 
rection and  outrage  described  in  the  preceding  pages.  In  the 
latter  aftair,  the  evidence  amounted  to  demonstration  ;  for 
the  offenders  met  with  no  support ;  and  skulked  about  for 
twenty  days  to  avoid  detection  ;  and  then,  releasing  me,  fled 
generally  from  the  State.  The  Susquehanna  Company,  who 
contrived  or  adopted  the  plot,  expected  to  ferret  me  out  of 
the  county ;  presuming  that  I,  wearied  out  by  opposition  and 
cruel  treatment,  should  haul  up  stakes^  and  abandon  the 
county  to  its  fate  ;  when,  the  rallying  point  of  all  the  well- 
disposed  being  removed,  they  might  recur  to  their  old  meas- 
ures with  a  good  prospect  of  eventual  success.  But  their 
plot  having  been  completely  defeated,  they  appeared  to  have 
wholly  abandoned  their  cause  in  despair.  The  repeal  of  the 
confirming  law  raised  them  from  the  dust.  The  Company, 
the  Old  Settlers,  and  the  Half-share  men,  alike  stripped  of 
title  and  of  hope,  would  naturally  make  common  cause.  The 
courts  and  order  of  the  county  were,  however,  maintained. 
And  although  one  suit  was  brought  by  a  Pennsylvania  claim- 
ant against  an  old  Connecticut  settler,  and  judgment,  in  a 
court  of  the  United  States,  was  given  in  favor  of  the  plaintiff; 
yet  the  Connecticut  settlers  kept  possession  of  their  farms : 
they  were  too  numerous  to  he  removed^  and  driven^  as  vagabonds^ 
upon  the  wide  ivorld.  The  magnitude  of  the  evil  became 
more  sensible  ;  and  at  length  the  legislature  yielded  to  expe- 
diency what  the}^  had  denied  to  the  demands  of  equity.  They 
passed  a  law  to  secure  the  Connecticut  settlers  in  their  posses- 
sions, upon  their  paying  some  small  prices  (not  a  twentieth 
part  of  the  intrinsic  value)  for  their  lands,  varied  according 
to  their  qualities.  Thus  the  controversy  was  ended,  but  in- 
finitely to  the  loss  of  Pennsylvania. 

"  Not  only  the  Susquehanna  Company,  but  the  Delaware 
Company,  which  had  long  been  apparently  extinct,  raised  their 
heads,  encouraged  settlers  to  go  in,  surveyed  lands,  and  sold 


410  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PIGKERING. 

« 

them  for  what  the}'  could  get  to  desperate  adventurers.  In 
this  disordered  state  of  the  country,  emiqrants  of  character 
and  property  changed  their  course,  and  entered  mto  the  State 
of  New  York,  where  new  lands  immediately  rose  in  i:)rice,  up 
to  three,  foin-,  and  five  dollars  an  acre ;  at  the  same  time  that 
like  lands  in  Luzerne  County,  and  eastward  as  far  as  the  Dela- 
ware, and  lands,  too,  nearer  to  a  market,  would  not  bring  a 
dollar.  Indeed  it  was  difficult  to  sell  at  any  rate.  But  for 
this  miserable  conduct  of  the  Pennsylvania  legislature,  the 
whole  country  between  the  Delaware  and  the  Susquehanna, 
being  nearer  at  hand  to  eastern  emigrants,  and  more  easily  ac- 
cessible than  the  New  York  lands,  would  have  long  since 
been  changed  from  a  wilderness  to  cultivated  farms,  and  the 
population  of  Pennsylvania  been  increased,  by  this  time,  to 
thirty  or  forty  thousand  inhabitants  beyond  her  present  num- 
ber. 

"  The  stream  once  turned  and  flowing,  it  was  not  easy  to 
divert  its  course  aftey  tranquillity  was  restored.  And  now, 
since  new  worlds  of  fertile  lands  have  been  opened  at  the 
westward,  comparatively  few  eastern  emigrants  stop  on  this 
side  of  the  Ohio.  But  for  the  vacillating  measures  of  the 
Pennsylvania  legislatures,  some  thousands  of  the  emigrants 
from  Connecticut  to  its  Western  Reserve,  would  now  have 
been  industrious  mhabitants  of  that  State. 

"  Timothy  Pickeeiis-g. 

"  Wenham,  December  31st,  1818." 

The  Honorable  Charles  Miner,  in  concluding  this  por- 
tion of  his  History  of  Wyoming,  says  :  — 

"  Christmas  of  1788,  found  Luzerne  abounding  in  the  neces- 
saries of  life  ;  the  laws  of  Pennsylvania  in  perfect  operation, 
receiving  everywhere  cheerful  obedience.  Franklin  at  liberty. 
Colonel  Pickering  in  his  office,  issuing  writs  or  recording 
deeds,  with  the  same  devoted  industrv  that  characterized  the 
performance  of  every  other  duty,  high  or  low,  allotted  to  him 
in  life  ;  a  most  extraordinary  man,  in  whom  were  combined 
those  rare  attributes,  of  wisdom  to  devise  measures,  decision 
to  resolve  on  their  execution,  energy  to  carry  them  through, 
—  the  whole  tempered  by  consummate  prudence,  and  perfect 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  411 

integrity,  tinged  nevertheless  by  a  degree  of  prejudice  that 
occasionally  misled  him  ;  yet  ever  commanding  the  respect  of 
friend  and  enemy.  Indeed,  perhaps,  he  was  the  only  man 
who  could  have  introduced  the  laws,  and  averted  the  calamity 
of  a  new  and  more  disastrous  civil  war  in  Wj'oming." 

The  portion  of  Colonel  Pickering's  biography  from 
his  first  entertaining  the  idea  of  settling  in  the  Wyom- 
ing valley,  and  superintending  the  organization  of  the 
county  of  Luzerne,  to  this  point,  presents  scenes,  inci- 
dents, conditions  and  modes  of  life,  and  personal  expe- 
riences, entirely  remote  from  the  ordinary  track  of 
distinguished  public  men.  What  remains  of  his  history 
has  an  interest  in  common  with  that  which  invests  all 
eminent  characters  and  examples ;  and  will  bring  him 
to  view  in  a  career  of  honor  and  usefulness,  diversified, 
elevated,  and  prolonged,  to  an  extraordinary  degree. 


412  LIPE   OF  TIMOTHY  nCKERING. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Mrs.  Pickering's  Visit  to  Salem.  —  Correspondence  with  William 
Binohnm.  —  A  Member  of  the  Convention  for  Framing:  a 
New  Constitution  for  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  —  Visit  to 
Charles  Thomson.  —  Unsuccessful  Aj^plicant  for  Office. 

1788,  1789. 

In  the  letter  to  his  brother  of  August  4th,  1788,  from 
Wilkesbarre,  quoted  in  the  preceding  chapter.  Colonel 
Pickering  says :  — 

"  My  friend,  Mr.  Hodgdon,  is  now  here ;  to-morrow  he  is 
to  start  off  for  Philadelphia,  accompanied  by  my  wife,  who 
will  probably  remain  there  two  months.  The  repeated  dis- 
turbances here  have  strongly  affected  her,  as  you  may  imagine  ; 
and  this  relaxation  of  a  visit  among  her  Philadelphia  friends 
will  probably  be  of  much  service  to  her." 

A  Salem  vessel  being  at  Philadelphia,  while  Mrs. 
Pickering  was  there,  it  occurred  to  her  and  her  friends 
that  a  brief  visit  to  Massachusetts  might  be  conveniently 
made,  and  that  a  sea-voyage  would  be  beneficial.  It 
was  concluded,  in  concurrence  with  the  opinion  of  her 
husband,  that  the  favorable  opportunity  ought  not  to  be 
lost.     The  following  is  from  a  letter  to  him  :  — 

"  Philadelphia,  August  22d,  1788. 

"My  Dear, 
"  To-morrow  I  expect  to  leave  this  city  for  Salem,  where  I 
promise  myself  great  pleasure  in  the  company  of  our  friends. 
I  feel  more  anxious  to  see  John  than  before  I  left  home,  but 
am  not  so  much  engrossed  with  the  idea  as  to  be  unmindful 
of  the  little  fellows  with  you.  They  aU  have  a  place  in  my 
memory,  but  Edward  occupies  it  most. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKEKING.  413 

"  Captain  Needham  has  not  been  able  to  obtain  freight, 
which  circumstance  is  in  my  favor,  as  the  present  prospect  of 
the  weather  promises  a  short  and  good  passage.  It  would  be 
more  agreeable  if  any  female  were  going  with  me.  At  pres- 
ent I  know  of  no  passenger  but  myself.  The  captain  and 
mate  bear  excellent  characters.  The  Major  intends  to  set 
out  for  Carlisle  next  Sunday.  He  postponed  his  journey  a 
few  days,  that  he  might  see  me  on  board.  He  and  Mrs. 
Hastings  have  procured  every  necessary  to  make  me  comfort- 
able during  the  passage.  It  is  probable  I  may  return  in  the 
same  vessel,  in  four  or  five  weeks,  when  I  hope  to  meet  you 
here.  I  am  in  great  expectation  of  Mr.  Horton's  arrival,  that 
I  may  hear  from  you  again  before  I  go.  Your  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances here  are  exceedingly  interested  in  your  situation  ; 
and  wish  government  to  pursue  such  measures  as  will  secure 
the  peace  and  safety  of  the  family,  and  the  interests  and  hap- 
piness of  the  State. 

"  It  is  a  week  to-day  since  "William  George  set  out  for 
Wilkesbarre.  I  hope  he  has  got  safe  there.  We  have  had 
very  heavy  rains  since.  I  think  the  creeks  must  be  affected 
by  them. 

*'  I  recollect  nothing  particular  to  mention.  Give  my  love 
to  Betsey,  and  kiss  the  boys  for  me. 

"  I  am,  with  unalterable  affection,  sincerely  yours, 

"  Rebecca  Pickering.'* 

She  reached  Salem  after  a  short  and  pleasant  passage, 
and  spent  about  six  weeks  in  visits  to  different  branches 
of  the  family.  The  occasion  was  one  of  great  enjoy- 
ment to  them  all.  For  nearly  ten  years  she  had  been 
far  away  ;  and  it  may  well  be  believed  that  the  story  of 
her  experiences  was  listened  to  with  the  deepest  inter- 
est, —  covering  a  life  in  immediate  connection  with 
head-quarters,  much  of  the  time  from  the  close  of  1778 
to  the  end  of  the  Eevolutionary  w^ar,  in  the  military 
family  of  Washington  ;  afterwards  several  years  in  Phil- 
adelphia, conversant  with  the  highest  and  best  circles 


414  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

of  society,  intimately  acquainted  with  the  distinguished 
persons  then  adorning  that  always  cultivated  and  en- 
lightened community  ;  and,  finally,  her  privations,  trials, 
and  suffering  in  the  woods,  and  worse  than  war,  of 
Wyoming. 

Her  health  and  spirits  were  quite  renovated  by  this 
brief  sojourn  in  Massachusetts.  Severe  weather  on  the 
return  passage  seems,  however,  to  have  again  prostrated 
her.  On  a  half-sheet  of  paper  are  found,  in  her  hand- 
writing, hurried  minutes  of  a  storm ,  destructive  to  much 
shipping,  but  from  which  the  vessel  she  was  in  was 
fortunately  preserved.  It  seems  that  it  was  a  week 
before  she  had  cleared  Cape  Cod. 

"  Monday,  p.m.  Left  Salem  October  6th  ;  arrived  at  Cape 
Cod  harbor  and  anchored.  Left  the  Cape  Thursday  morn- 
ing, and  reached  Chatham  harbor  on  Friday  evening  ;  crossed 
a  very  dangerous  bar  to  get  in.  It  began  to  rain  in  the  night, 
and  continued  to  all  day  Saturday,  accompanied  with  very 
hard  wind.  From  the  appearance  of  the  weather  in  the 
harbor,  it  Avas  concluded  by  the  Captain  to  be  a  severe  storm 
at  sea.  It  blew  so  hard  in  the  harbor  that  a  number  of  ves- 
sels broke  from  their  moorings  and  drove  ashore.  One  drove 
so  close  upon  us  that  it  alarmed  our  ship's  company.  They 
were  afraid  ours  would  be .  stove  to  pieces  or  driven  on  shore. 

"  Sunday,  October  12th.  I  never  was  witness  to  such  a 
scene  as  this  morning  exhibited  to  my  view.  Vessels  driven 
on  shore  on  every  side." 

Colonel  Pickering,  wa^iting  to  his  brother  from  Phil- 
adelphia, October  29th,  says  :  — 

"  My  wife  arrived  here  on  Tuesday,  the  21st,  very  much 
indisposed  ;  but  she  is  much  better  now,  wliich  enables  us  to 
set  off  to-day  for  Wyoming." 

Writing,  Xovember  loth,  to  Major  Hodgdon,  he 
says  :  — 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  415 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  my  wife  has  per- 
fectly recovered,  and  that  the  whole  family  are  well." 

Peace  being  at  last  established  in  his  county,  and 
health  in  his  household,  he  found  happiness  in  his 
favorite  pursuit  of  it :  in  the  labors  of  husbandry  and 
improvements  on  his  farm  ;  variegated  by  the  discharge 
of  the  duties  of  his  civil  and  judicial  offices,  by  corre- 
spondence with  friends,  and  by  visits  to  Philadelphia, 
from  time  to  time,  to  urge  the  slow  and  reluctant  As- 
sembly to  efficient  measures  for  the  settlement  of  all 
questions  relating  to  land-titles  in  Wyoming.  In  follow- 
ing the  current  of  his  history,  he  and  others  connected 
with  him  will,  so  far  as  the  means  are  afforded,  speak 
for  themselves,  as  living  witnesses,  in  letters  and  docu- 
ments, written  at  the  time,  or  citations  from  them. 

He  was  often  called  by  public  business  to  Philadel- 
phia, and  generally  travelled  on  horseback.  In  a  letter 
to  his  wife,  dated  "  At  Learn's,  Wednesday  morning, 
April  1st,  1789,"  he  says  :  — 

"  We  got  to  Tobyhanna  last  night  with  difficulty,  and 
slept,  with  our  horses,  in  Luce's  old  hut.  It  was  very  well 
we  brought  provisions  with  us,  as  there  was  nothing  to  eat  in 
the  house.  Luce  was  gone  with  Ins  brother  for  provisions. 
This  morning  we  came  to  Learn's  to  breakfast ;  the  road  alto- 
gether much  better  than  I  expected,  and  the  creeks  were  not 
high.  It  began  to  snow  before  day,  and  snowed  all  the  way 
to  Learn's  ;  but  now  'tis  fair  weather.  I  rode  with  more  ease 
than  I  expected,  and  am  better  than  I  was." 

His  correspondence  often  relates  to  the  most  impor- 
tant subjects,  shedding  much  light  upon  the  history  of 
the  government,  and  upon  the  development  of  the  me- 
chanical and  nlanufacturing,  as  'well  as  agricultural, 
interests  of  the   country 


416  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

William  Bingham  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
citizens  of  Philadelphia  and  puhlic  men  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  following  letters  passed  between  him  and 
Colonel  Pickering :  — 

"Philadelphia,  April  9tli,  1789. 
"  William  Bingham,  Esq. 

"  You  desired  me  to  give  you  in  writing  what  I  had  to 
communicate  relative  to  the  manufacturing  of  iron  in  Luzerne 
County.  I  can  only  inform  you  of  the  situation  of  the  ore, 
the  conveniency  of  the  necessary  materials  for  refining,  &c., 
and  the  probable  demand  for  bar-iron,  castings,  and  manu- 
factures of  iron. 

''  The  ore  is  about  eight  miles  below  Wilkesbarre,  and  within 
a  short  distance  of  the  Susquehanna,  —  perhaps  half  a  mile 
or  a  mile  from  it.  It  is  close  by  the  creek,  where  a  bloomery 
has  just  been  erected  and  set  to  work ;  and  I  have  been 
informed,  by  those  who  have  viewed  it,  but  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  from  the  bloomery,  to  which  it  may  be  brought  down 
the  mill-pond  in  canoes,  or  any  cheap  flat  boats.  The  adja- 
cent lands  have  a  sufficiency  of  wood  for  charcoal ;  and  if 
these  should  fail  in  time,  the  river  will  enable  the  proprietors 
to  obtain,  for  ages,  a  full  and  cheap  supply  of  wood  or  coal. 
And  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  stone  coal,  with  which  the 
country  abounds,  may  be  aj)plied  to  the  same  use,  according 
to  the  late  invention  we  have  heard  of  in  England.  But  in 
whatever  way  refined  iron  shall  be  obtained,  the  manufactur- 
ing of  it  into  all  kinds  of  tools  and  other  articles,  necessary 
and  convenient  for  the  country,  may  be  effected  with  singular 
advantage  ;  for  many  of  our  hills  are  full  of  strong  stone  coal, 
and  there  is  a  large  body  of  it  joining  the  dam  where  the 
bloomery  is  erected.  The  stream  of  water  there,  I  appre- 
hend, is  sufficient  for  a  furnace  and  a  forge  at  the  same  time. 
And  below  the  present  forge  there  is  a  saw-mill,  and  a  grist 
mill  may  be  erected  by  the  side  of  it. 

"  The  ore,  I  am  assured,  is  in  great  abundance.  'Tis  bog 
ore  which  is  constantly  renewing.  'Tis  of  a  rich  quality,  and 
the  iron  made  of  it  at  the  bloomery  is  almost  equal  to  any 
refined  iron.     It  appears  to  me  highly  probable  that  it  will 


LIFE    OF   TDIOTHY  PICKERING.  417 

make  excellent  steel  ;    and  a   steel  furnace  may,  in  proper 
time,  be  erected  for  converting  it. 

"  The  demand  for  castings,  for  bar-iron ;  for  manufactures, 
particularly  axes,  hoes,  grubbing  hoes,  shovels,  spades,  scythes, 
chains,  ploughshares,  nails,  and  various  other  articles,  — 
will  be  considerable  at  the  present  time,  and  will  increase 
rapidly  with  the  extending  population  of  the  countries  wat- 
ered by  the  east  and  west  branches  of  the  Susquehanna, 
and  of  the  neighboring  State  of  Xew  York,  to  which  multi- 
tudes of  the  New  England  people  are  now  preparing  to 
emigrate.  But  besides  the  countries  beyond  the  Blue  Moun- 
tain, much  of  this  State  below  it  may  be  supplied  from  Lu- 
zerne, at  cheaper  rates  than  from  any  other  iron  works  in 
Pennsylvania.  When  the  latest  road  surveyed  shall  be  opened, 
the  distance  from  the  iron  works  to  Easton  will  be  but  about 
sixty  miles.  During  the  winter  there  is  commonly  two  months 
of  good  sleighing,  when  iron  manufactures  may  be  carried  to 
Easton  at  a  moderate  expense,  and  thence,  in  the  spring,  by 
water  to  this  city.  Even  at  this  time  Northampton  County, 
and  the  adjacent  parts  of  Bucks,  might  be  supplied  from 
Luzerne  as  cheaply  as  from  any  iron  works  in  the  State,  for 
at  Durham  they  make  only  castings. 

"  I  mentioned  the  west  branch  of  the  Susquehanna.  At 
present,  the  inhabitants  there  get  iron  from  Middletown  and 
Harrisburg,  to  which  places,  I  believe,  'tis  brought  from  Gim- 
blet's  works.  Now  'tis  upwards  of  sixty  miles  from  Middle- 
town  to  Sunbury  and  Northumberland,  against  the  stream. 
But  from  the  Luzerne  bloomery,  'tis  little  more  than  fifty 
miles  cloivn  the  stream.  From  Northumberland,  the  whole  of 
the  west  branch  will  certainly  be  supplied. 

"  From  this  view  of  the  matter,  you  will  be  able  to  judge 
whether  the  erecting  of  a  furnace,  and  eventually  other  iron 
works  in  Luzerne,  merits  vour  attention.  On  what  terms  an 
interest  in,  or  the  whole  property  of,  the  ore,  stream,  and  ad- 
jacent lands  could  be  obtained,  I  know  not ;  but  the  present 
proprietors  are  poor  men.  Their  title  is  only  that  derived 
from  Connecticut ;  and  before  any  capital  works  should  be 
erected,  it  would  be  proper  to  purchase  the  Pennsylvania  title 
to  the  same  tracts.  Had  I  the  means,  I  should  engage  in  the 
Vol.  II.  27 


418  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

measure  without  delay  :  as  it  is,  I  wish  to  form  a  connection, 
on  some  terms,  with  those  who  have. 

"  Yours,  &c., 

"  JTiiViOTHY  Pickering." 

"  Philadelphia,  April  14th,  1789. 
'"T.  Pickering,  Esq. 

'^  Sir, 

*'  I  received  and  have  considered  your  letter  of  the  9th  in- 
stant. 

"  It  appears  that  the  iron-ore  is  well  situated,  and  may  be 
worked  to  considerable  advantage,  and  that  the  surrounding 
country  affords  a  market  (which  will  be  continually  increasing) 
for  large  quantities  of  this  article. 

"  But  the  most  essential  object  is  to  know  on  what  terms 
the  property  could  be  purchased,  and  whether  the  title  is  in- 
disputable. 

"  On  your  return  to  Luzerne,  you  can  be  made  acquainted 
with  these  circumstances,  and  I  will,  immediately  on  being 
informed  of  them,  determine  whether  T  will  effect  the  pur^ 
chase,  and  on  what  footing. 

*'  When  once  possessed  of  the  property,  eventual  measures 
may  be  taken  for  turning  it  to  the  best  account. 

"  I  am.  Sir,  &c., 

"  William  Bingham." 

It  is  quite  evident  from  the  expressions  and  tenor  of 
his  letter  that  Mr.  Bingham  was  very  favorably  inclined 
to  obtain  possession  of  a  large  territory  in  the  county  of 
Luzerne,  and  that  the  only  real  obstacle  was  in  the  titles  ; 
for  that  fatally  involved  the  question  of  price.  The  lands 
Avere  all  and  severally  claimed  by  adverse  parties.  The 
heated  and  prolonged  struggle  had  made  them  both  ob- 
stinate, tenacious,  and  confident.  Neither  was  willing 
to  sell  for  less  than  the  whole  of  what  the  property  was 
then  supposed  to  be  worth.  Each  insisted  upon  holding 
on  to  their  respective  estimates  ;  and  the  result  was  that 
no  transferrence  of  the  lands  could  be  effected,  except 


LIFE   OF, TIMOTHY  PICKEEDsG.  419 

for  double  their  value ;  and  Mr.  Bingham  desisted  from 
further  negotiation.  The  legislature  of  Pennsylvania, 
in  delaying  decisive  action,  one  way  or  another,  as 
to  the  confirming  law,  inflicted  an  injury  upon  that  State, 
far  greater  than  was  then  imagined,  and  which,  in- 
deed, cannot  be  calculated.  Mr.  Bingham's  family  con- 
nection with  the  Barings  would  have  enabled  him,  had 
he  been  allowed  to  get  possession  of  those  lands,  to  have 
commanded  boundless  resources  from  that  quarter,  in 
addition  to  his  own  great  wealth,  in  opening  the  mines 
of  ''  stone-iron,"  of  which,  in  wide  layers  of  great 
depths,  the  mountains  largely  consisted.  A  *'  Bingham 
Purchase,"  on  the  east  branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  at 
that  time,  instead  of,  or  in  addition  to,  that  made  of  a 
considerable  portion  of  what  was  then  the  District  of 
Maine,  would  have  accelerated  the  growth  of  Pennsyl- 
vania half  a  centurv. 

Colonel  Pickering's  brother-in-law,  George  Williams, 
a  merchant  in  Salem,  and  father  of  Samuel  Williams, 
long  the  great  American  banker  in  London,  was  a  faith- 
ful and  generous  friend  and  frequent  correspondent.  In 
the  letters  passing  between  them,  public  questions  relating 
to  politics,  finance,  and  business  matters  generally,  are 
often  discussed.  In  one  of  them,  dated  September  29th, 
1788,  Mr.  Williams  mentions  some  attempts  to  manufact- 
ure certain  articles  in  Massachusetts  at  that  time,  and 
o:ives  brieflv  some  views  that  have  been  remarkablv  sus- 
tained  by  subsequent  experience,  and  cannot,  perhaps, 
be  found  earlier  expressed. 

"At  Beverly,  a  cotton  manufactory;  at  Boston,  a  cluck 
do.,  and  at  Watertown,  a  small  trial  of  woollens. 

"  If  you  should  have  peace  at  your  place,  and  you  and  your 


420  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY*  PICKERING. 

townsmen  would  raise  good  flax,  water-rotting  it,  tlien  it  will 
be  fit  to  make  duck  and  twine.  The  hemp  must  go  down 
your  river.  As  you  have  Germans  in  your  State,  in  time  you 
may  find  some  experienced  in  manufacturing  it.  A  gentleman 
has  got  pieces  of  English  duck  for  samples,  from  No.  1  to  8, 
and  carried  them  to  Northampton,  for  their  poor  people  to 
spin  the  warp  and  filling ;  and  a  weaver  is  w^anting,  which 
they  are  in  hopes  to  find.  We  in  Massachusetts  must  go  on 
these  coarse  articles,  and,  in  time,  fine  ones ;  which  will  be  a 
great  saving  to  this  country,  and  then  ive  shall  be  a  rich  people. 
It  must  be  done  in  the  country,  for  the  town  and  city  people 
will  not  work  till  they  are  forced  to  it.  Whenever  time  will 
allow  you  and  your  neighbors  to  go  into  any  manufactures 
that  will  answer  for  the  Eastern  States,  and  I  can  be  of  any 
service  to  you,  I  shall  be  ready  to  give  you  any  information, 
what  will  answer." 

In  a  postscript  of  a  letter,  dated  April  15th,  1789,  to 
his  brother-in-law,  Wingate,  then  in  Congress,  Colonel 
Pickerinsr  makes  these  susrsrestions  :  — 

"  Permit  me  to  add  a  few  words  on  the  style  of  the  public 
acts  of  Congress.  All  the  law  forms,  which  I  have  seen,  are 
burdened  and  deformed  by  useless  tautologies  and  repetitions. 
I  should  be  pleased  to  see  in  the  Acts  of  Congress  some  re- 
semblance to  the  simplicity  of  '  Thou  shalt  not  kill,'  '  Thou 
shalt  not  bear  false  witness  against  thy  neighbor.'  The  nu- 
merous and  complex  affairs  of  an  extended  and  commercial 
people  will  require  a  multitude  of  regulations  ;  still,  however, 
a  degree  of  conciseness  and  simplicity  in  the  style  appears 
very  attainable  ;  and  such  a  style  possesses  a  dignity  which  is 
wanting  in  all  the  statutes  I  have  ever  seen.  If  a  corporation 
is  to  be  erected,  it  must  be  done  '  by  the  name,  style,  and 
title  ;'  but  pray  where  is  the  necessity  of  using  more  than  one  of 
these  three  words  ?  And  why  begin  every  distinct  paragraph 
with  '  And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  afore- 
said '  ?  I  am  disgusted  when,  in  a  law,  I  see  such  an  enu- 
meration as  this,  '  Horses,  mares,  geldings,  colts,  fillies,'  bulls, 
oxen,  cows,  heifers,  steers,  calves.     Is  it  not  possible  to  find 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  421 

comprehensive  Avords  that  shall  supersede  such  a  minute  de- 
tail ?  -  When  a  naturalist  describes  a  horse^  nobody  imagines 
that  he  means  only  the  full-grown  male  of  the  species.  If 
there  be  danger  of  mistake  or  evasion,  would  it  not  be  better 
to  declare,  in  a  preliminary  act,  the  force  of  certain  words,  to 
save  the  continued  repetition  of  so  minute  an  enumeration  ?  " 

At  this  period  of  his  life,  Colonel  Pickering  became 
much  embarrassed  in  his  pecuniary  affairs.  Before  he 
had  been  prevailed  on  by  the  urgent  solicitations  of  his 
friends  in  Philadelphia  to  settle  at  Wyoming,  represent- 
ing to  him  that  a  great  public  service  would  be  promoted 
by  his  taking  the  management  of  the  unhappy  difficulties 
there,  he  had  designed  to  go  elsewhere  to  establish  a 
home  for  himself  and  sons,  and  had  disposed  of  his  then 
available  means  in  purchasing  twelve  thousand  acres  of 
new  laud  in  Western  Pennsylvania ;  and,  in  company 
with  Major  Hodgdon,  had  bought  two  thousand  five 
hundred  acres  eighteen  miles  above  Wyoming,  and  five 
thousand  acres  in  what  was  then  Western  Virginia,  now 
Kentucky,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Ohio  Kiver,  about 
three  miles  from  Marietta,  on  the  other  side.  As  settle- 
ment had  not  yet  reached  these  lands,  they  remained 
unsalable.  If  he  could  retain  them  a  few  years  longer, 
they  would  command  a  price  that  would  afford  him 
the  means  of  providing  adequately  and  permanently  for 
his  family.  He  therefore  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  avoid, 
if  possible,  the  sacrifice  of  at  least  a  part  of  them  at  a 
merely  nominal  price.  In  the  mean  time,  however,  he 
was  becoming  more  and  more  straitened  in  his  circum- 
stances, and  submitting  to  increasing  privations.  In 
letters  to  George  Williams,  urging  him  to  raise  money 
to  meet  his  necessities,  by  selling  off  the  remnants  of  his 


422  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  riCKERING. 

patrimonial  property  in  Salem,  he  lays  open  his  situation 
candidly  and  fully. 

He  had  consented  to  encounter  tlie  Wyoming  enter- 
prise on  the  pledge  of  those  who  were  considered  as 
authorized  to  speak  for  the  government  of  Pennsylvania, 
that  the  titles  of  the  settlers  there  should  be  confirmed, 
and  on  assurances  from  the  principal  lawyers  in  Phila- 
delphia that  the  emoluments  of  the  various  offices  con- 
ferred on  him  in  the  county  of  Luzerne  could  not  fail  to 
be  considerable.  The  violation  of  that  pledge  by  the 
suspension,  which  amounted  to  a  virtual  repeal,  of  the 
confirming  law  almost  as  soon  as  it  was  enacted,  and 
foreshadowed  its  actual  repeal  not  long  after,  rendered 
his  offices  valueless. 

Writing  from  Philadelphia  to  Mr.  Williams  on  the 
24th  of  April,  and  again  on  the  24th  of  November,  he 
makes  these  statements  :  — 

"  The  immediate  prospect  of  selling  part  of  my  new  lands 
has  failed ;  I  am  now  so  engaged  that  my  credit  is  at  stake. 
You  will  blame  me  for  getting  so  engaged ;  but  it  was  not 
easy  to  avoid  it.  Where  I  live  I  have  purchased  no  more 
land  than  w^ill  make  me  a  decent  farm  ;  and  I  had  reason  to 
expect  the  means  of  stocking  and  improving  it.  I  have  been 
two  years  and  a  half  engaged  in  the  affairs  of  AYyoming, 
during  all  which  time  I  have  received  but  trifles  in  all  my 
offices.  The  fees  in  those  offices  would  now  yield  me  .£200 
a  year ;  but  cash  is  not  to  be  obtained ;  j9?*ocZu(?e  is  the  cur- 
rency of  that  country ;  but  I  have  received  as  yet,  very  little 
of  this.  Actions  in  the  law  in  this  State  are  usually  four 
terms  (that  is,  a  year)  in  coming  to  judgment,  and  the  diffi- 
culties of  the  times  render  the  collection  of  fees  even  then, 
very  dilatory.  Most  of  my  fees  are  yet  outstanding,  so  that 
I  have  been  only  spending.  I  beg  you  to  make  my  brother's 
mind  easy.  I  have  property  enough,  which,  in  a  few  years, 
with  the  improvements  making  by  others  in  the  neighbor- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKEEDsG.  423 

hood  of  my  lands,  and  the  improvements  I  shall  make  my- 
self, if  my  Hfe  is  spared,  will  place  me  in  easy  circumstances  ; 
for,  excepting  necessary  plain  clothing  for  my  family  and 
liired  men,  and  a  little  tea  and  coffee  for  the  women,  I  shall 
henceforward  need  nothing  but  what  my  farm  will  produce. 
The  truth  is  that  the  making  a  settlement  at  "Wyoming  has 
been  vastly  more  expensive  than  I  expected  ;  and  the  ex- 
penses have  been  greatly  enhanced  by  the  disturbances  that 
have  happened.  I  do  not  think  my  fees,  altogether,  have 
amounted  to  fifty  dollars  in  cash.  This  has  arisen  chiefly 
from  those  disturbances  which  have  prevented  the  population 
of  the  county,  hindered  improvements  among  the  people 
already  there,  delayed  the  opening  of  practicable  roads  to 
bring  their  surplus  produce  to  market,  and,  indeed,  prevented 
their  raising  a  surj)lus  of  any  consequence.  Of  course  you 
see  the  people  have  as  yet  had  no  way  to  acquire  money^  and 
consequently  have  had  none  for  me.  At  our  last  September 
court,  I  was  industriously  employed,  from  Monday  morning 
till  Saturday  night,  in  my  five  offices;  and  yet,  during  the 
whole  week,  I  received  but  one  quarter  of  a  dollar^  and  that 
from  a  man  who  came  from  another  county.  Yet  there  were 
between  forty  and  fifty  actions  entered,  my  fees  in  which,  in 
the  end,  will  average,  at  least,  as  many  pounds.  Besides  this, 
I  did  a  good  deal  of  business  in  the  Orphans'  and  Probate 
Courts,  some  in  the  Quarter-Sessions,  and  received  some 
deeds  to  record. 

"  When  I  reflect  on  all  these  untoward  circumstances,  I 
feel  some  satisfaction  that  I  am  not  now  in  debt.  The  truth 
is,  that  I  have  worked  hard  mvself,  that  mv  wife  and  her 
sister  have  been  alike  industrious,  and  that  our  clothing  and 
diet  have  been  plain  and  frugal,  such  as  we  had  never  known 
before ;  often,  indeed,  such  as  never  experienced  in  my 
father's  house.  But  we  have  been  resigned  to  our  condition, 
aiming  at  making  the  best  of  it.  We  must  use  yet  greater 
frugality,  till  my  offices  shall  become  more  productive  ;  for  I 
would  fain  preserve  my  new  lands,  which  will  eventually  be 
so  valuable,  though  I  must  part  with  a  considerable  portion 
of  them  at  a  very  inferior  price,  if  I  cannot  otherwise  dis- 
charo-e  debts  that  mav  have  to  be  incurred." 


424  LITE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKKRING. 

These  passages  disclose  his  situation.  The  tone  of 
the  letters  from  which  they  are  substantially  taken 
shows  that  his  spirit  was  not  broken  by  the  embarrass- 
ments, perplexities,  and  endurances  to  which  he  was 
subjected.  He  was  indeed,  as  he  elsewhere  describes 
himself,  a  "  poor  man,"  hard-working,  living  on  humble 
fare ;  but,  as  always,  patient,  cheerful,  hopeful,  and 
brave-hearted.  Great  interest  was  felt  in  him  every- 
where. Besides  regret  that  he  should  be  suffering  such 
trials,  there  was  a  general  sentiment  among  those  who 
knew  him,  or  had  been  led  to  appreciate  his  character, 
that  the  public  service  should  have  the  benefit  of  his 
talents,  energy,  and  integrity.  Among  his  papers  is 
found  a  document,  dated  '''  Philadelphia,  October  26th, 
1789,"  addressed  "  To  his  Excellency  the  President,  and 
the  Honorable  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,"  recommending  '•  Tim- 
othy Pickering,  Esquire,"  for  appointment  as  "  Surveyor- 
General  "  of  Pennsylvania,  possessing  "  in  an  eminent 
degree,"  and  "  in  all  respects,"  the  qualifications  for  that 
office.  This  application  was  made  by  no  agency  of  his, 
although,  w4ien  apprised  of  it,  he  signified  that  the 
office  would  be  very  agreeable  and  acceptable.  It  was 
given  to  another.  The  copy  of  the  paper  was  probably 
sent  to  Colonel  Pickering,  as  a  memorial  of  personal 
friendship,  and  of  the  estimate  in  which  his  character 
and  abilities  w^ere  held  by  the  signers,  w^ho  were  indeed 
a  distinguished  body  of  men,  —  Thomas  McKean, 
Thomas  Fitzsimoxs,  William  Lewis,  Edward  Ship- 
pen,  Robert  Morris,  Richard  Peters,  Frederick  A. 
Muhlexberg,  Willia:*!  Raavle,  Jared  Ixgersoll,  James 


life  of  timothy  pickering.  425 

Wilson,     George    Clymer,    Thomas    Willing,    Tench 
Francis,  Samuel  Powell. 

J  Colonel  Pickering  took  an  active  part  in  the  political 
operations  necessary  to  put  in  motion  the  machinery  of 

'  the  new  Federal  government,  and  was  in  constant  corre- 
spondence with  leading  persons  in  Philadelphia  on  the 
subject.  At  a  meeting  of  a  number  of  gentlemen  in  that 
place,  belonging  to  the  city  and  county  of  Philadelphia ; 
and  the  counties  of  Berks,  Chester,  Lancaster,  York, 
Cumberland,  Bucks,  Northumberland,  Montgomery, 
Dauphin,  and  Huntingdon,  —  it  was  voted,  "  that  a  Con- 
ference be  held,"  on  the  first  Monday  of  Xovember, 
1788,  at  the  borough  of  Lancaster,  to  fix  on  tickets  for 
ten  electors,  and  eight  members  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, for  the  First  Congress.  The  members  of 
Congress,  as  well  as  electors,  were  to  be  chosen  on  a 
general  ticket.  The  day  appointed  by  law  for  the  elec- 
tion of  the  former  was  the  fourth  Monday  of  November  ; 

I  that  for  the  latter,  the  first  Monday  in  January,  1789. 
Each  county  was  to  have  two  delegates  in  the  '*  Confer- 
ence," and  Colonel  Pickering  was  relied  upon  to  have 
Luzerne  duly  represented. 

The  "  Lancaster  ticket "  for  members  of  Congress  was 

elected,  with  two  exceptions,  the  German  vote  carrying 

in  Muhlenberg  and  Heister  over  Allison  and  Chambers. 

Tench  Coxe  writing  to  Colonel  Pickering,  December 

17th,  1788,  says:  — 

"  I  presume  you,  by  this  time,  know  the  fate  of  the  Federal 
cause,  at  the  late  election.  Six  of  the  Lancaster  ticket  are 
carried,  and  two  Germans  more  than  the  one  who  was  on  that 
list,  which  gives  us  eight  safe  members  for  Pennsylvania,  none 
of  whom  will  injure,  and  some  of  whom  can  essentially  serve, 
the  Constitution.     The  jealousy  of  the  country  prevented  a 


426  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  nCKERING. 

gentleman,  lately  of  Massachusetts,  from  being  put  in  nomi- 
nation, though  no  other  objection  was  adduced,  and  the  weight 
of  every  argument  in  his  favor  admitted." 

The  circumstance  or  his  having  been  but  a  few  years 
a  citizen  of  Pennsylvania  was,  not  long  afterwards,  again 
brought  to  bear  against  Colonel  Pickering. 

The  Lancaster  electoral  ticket  was  also  chosen.  Writ- 
ing to  Mr.  Hodgdon,  January  11th,  1789,  Colonel  Pick- 
ering says : — 

"  The  election  of  electors  was  better  than  the  last ;  we  had 
tliirty-six  votes.  The  citizens  of  Philadelphia  would  hardly 
travel  from  five  to  one  hundred  miles  to  attend  any  election 
whatever.  But  the  people  of  this  county  must  do  it,  or  our 
elections  will  be  small.  They  know  little  about  the  neiv 
government^  and  of  course  felt  little  interest  in  elections. 
Added  to  the  above  circumstances,  the  weather  was  bad, 
which  prevented  many  in  the  neighborhood  from  assembling." 

In  a  letter  to  his  former  mercantile  partner,  Mr. 
Hodgdon,  he  gives  a  statement  of  the  circumstances  which 
then,  January  24:th,  1789,  made  it  necessary  to  draw  on 
him  for  funds. 

"  I  hope  you  may  have  received  some  moneys  due  us.  If 
all  other  sources  fail  of  enabling  me  to  discharge  the  above 
and  other  engagements,  which  T  must  fulfil  in  the  spring,  I 
must  sell,  at  any  i^rice^  some  of  my  new  lands,  or  more  of  my 
land  in  Salem  —  the  latter  probably  —  and  the  payment  for  it 
will  be  certain.  I  could  wish  you  to  see  some  of  the  hemp 
buyers,  and  make  a  conditional  bargain.  My  hemp,  the 
dresser  says,  is  good ;  but  it  was  sown  late,  and  the  ground 
not  well  enough  prepared,  so  that  generally  'tis  very  short. 
The  quantity  I  expected  was  ten  hundred-weight,  but  there 
may  be  considerably  less.  I  believe  it  would  suit  the  spinners 
of  small  cords.  I  have  done  no  more  to  my  house  than  to 
divide  the  rooms  above  by  rough  partitions,  and  fill  in  the 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  427 

lower  rooms,  and  the  entry -chamber  with  bricks.  I  had  it  in 
contemplation  to  finish  the  honse  next  summer ;  but  I  have 
now  determined  to  postpone  it  another  year,  that  I  may  build 
*  me  a  barn,  and  provide  other  things  essential  for  me.  If  I 
live  another  year,  I  hope  to  be  able  to  remit  produce  for  the 
greater  part  of  the  articles  I  shall  want  from  the  city ;  and 
Avhen  once  I  can  accomplish  this,  I  shall  begin  to  be  at  ease." 

Passages  of  Colonel  Pickering's  letters,  like  the 
above,  are  given  that  the  reader  may  be  kept  apprised, 
from  time  to  time,  of  the  difficulties  he  was  encountering, 
the  privations  and  discomforts  to  which  he  was  submit- 
ting, and  the  struggles  he  was  manfull)*  making,  to  pro- 
vide for  the  maintenance  and  welfare  of  his  family. 
This,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind,  through  every  period  of 
his  life,  he  felt  to  be  a  most  sacred  and  the  highest 
1  duty  of  a  man.  He  sought  and  held  office,  not  from 
ambition  or  pride,  but  from  a  desire  to  be  useful,  and, 
as  he  always  frankly  declared,  from  consideration  of  his 

circumstances,  and  the  necessity  he  was  under  of  pro- 

♦ 

curing  means  for  the  discharge  of  duty  to  those  depend- 
ent upon  him. 

A  new  form  of  national  government  having  been  es- 
tablished, and  the  steps  taken  to  put  it  in  motion,  the 
people  of  Pennsylvania  turned  their  attention  to  a  change 
in  their  State  Constitution.  A  general  conviction  ex- 
isted that  it  had  become  absolutely  necessary.  The 
utter  want  of  energy,  and  of  an  intelligent  comprehen- 
sion of  the  interests  of  the  State,  shown  in  such  instances 
as  the  imbecile  and  stupid  course  of  the  Assembly  in 
reference  to  the  settlement  of  land  titles  in  Luzerne 
County,  occasioned  angry  complaints  from  suffering  par- 
ties and  w'ide-spread  dissatisfaction.  The  State  was 
substantially  without  an  executive.     The  President  of 


428  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

a  Council  of  twenty  members  bore  the  semblance  of  a 
Governor,  and  was  sometimes  spoken  of  as  such.  Ap- 
pointments were  made  by  the  Council,  voting  by  secret 
ballot.  Of  course  there  was  no  responsibility  anywhere  ; 
and  the  whole  system  became  the  subject  of  derision, 
not  only  by  the  outside  public,  but  by  those  in  the 
government  itself.  A  member  of  the  Council,  in  ex- 
planation of  some  objectionable  proceeding,  said  "  what 
can  be  expected  of  the  supreme  executive  Council, 
when  their  own  Secretary  can  neither  read  nor  write  ^" 
That  is,  as  he  explained,  "  he  reads  so  badly,  and  writes 
so  incorrectly,  that  he  is  not  called  upon  to  read  papers 
in  Council,  nor  does  he  even  make  the  minutes  of  their 
proceedings.  Both  of  these  things  are  done  by  some  of 
the  members,  and  the  minutes  are  then  fairly  entered  in 
the  books  by  the  Deputy-Secretary."  Such  a  body  natu- 
rally got  to  be  considered,  as  it  was  called  at  the  time, 
a  mere  "  excrescence  "  of  government ;  and  the  people 
demanded  that  it  should  be  "  lopped  off  "  by  a  better  sys- 
tem. It  has  been  noticed  with  what  an  extremely  dis- 
respectful illustration  Dr.  Rush  persisted  in  expressing 
his  contempt  for  the  then  existing  Constitution  of  Penn- 
sylvania, as  in  the  following  letter  to  Colonel  Pickering. 

"Philadelphia,  March  25th,  1789. 

"Dear  Sir, 
"  Colonel  Hartley  (now  in  New  York)  requests  that  you 
would  write  to  your  friends  in  the  Federal  legislature,  in 
favor  of  the  residence  of  Congress  in  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Win- 
gate  and  Mr.  Goodhue  are  both  at  present  in  New  York. 
Man}^  arguments,  I  have  no  doubt,  will  occur  to  you ;  but 
none  should  be  urged  more  than  the  necessity  and  advantages 
of  uniting  New  England  and  Pennsylvania  in  one  great  sys- 
tem of  republican  legislation.     Ancient  prejudices  and  habits 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERIXG.  429 

will  for  ever  prevent  sucli  a  union  taking  place  between  New 
York  and  the  Eastern  States. 

"  Mr.  Gore  will  give  you  a  history  of  the  triumphs  of 
reason,  liberty,  and  justice  in  the  proceedings  of  our  Assem- 
bly. Nothing  now  remains  to  be  done  to  make  us  a  great  and 
happy  people,  but  to  change  our  State  Constitution,  or,  to  use 
the  words  which  once  offended  ^Mr.  William  Montgomery,  to 
overset  our  State  dung-cart^  hy  means  of  the  new  Continental 
wagon, 

"  You  will  forward  this  business  by  using  the  utmost  indus- 
try to  obtain  signatures  to  petitions,  to  the  next  session  of 
Assembly,  to  call  a  Convention.  Your  friends  expect  vigor 
and  success  from  your  influence  in  Luzerne  County.  The 
sooner  you  open  your  petitions  the  better,  otherwise  Mr. 
Nicholson  may  have  an  advantage  over  you ;  for  he,  it  seems, 
is  the  dictator-general  of  the  Antifederal  party. 

"  With  compliments  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  in  which  Mrs.  Rush 
joins,  I  am,  dear  Sir,  yours  sincerely, 

''  BEXJA^kllN  KusH. 

"  P.  S.  The  dialogues,  receipts,  &c.,  in  the  almanac,  as  far 
as  September,  are  by  yours,  B.  R." 

The  "Mr.  Gore"  mentioned  by  Dr.  Rush  in  the 
sarcastic  passage  above,  about  the  "  triumphs  of  rea- 
son," &c.,  was  Obadiah  Gore,  Esquire,  the  Member 
of  Assembly  for  Luzerne.  He  had  just  written  to 
Colonel  Pickering  that  "  all  prospects  for  the  present " 
of.  getting  any  thing  done  for  Luzerne  County  "  seem  to 
be  at  an  end." 

Of  course  it  was  no  easv  matter  to  alter  the  Constitu- 
tion  of  the  State.  It  could  not  be  done  without  the  con- 
currence and  co-operation  of  the  existing  government. 
The  first  indispensable  step  was  a  law  to  be  passed  by 
it,  calling  a  Convention  of  the  people  for  the  purpose. 
Such  a  law  would  extinguish  the  authority  of  those  en- 


430  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  nCKERING. 

acting  it.  To  meet  the  case,  petitions  were  put  in  cir- 
culation in  every  county,  the  Chief-Justice  prepared  an 
address,  and  every  possible  influence  was  brought  to 
bear.  Major  Hodgdon,  writing  to  Colonel  Pickering, 
May  7th,  1789,  says  :  "  I  have  forwarded  several  more 
papers,  and  with  them  the  Chief-Justice's  address.  The 
business  goes  on  swimmingly  here  ;  all  ranks  sign  the 
petition,  but,  in  Cumberland,  the  old  hands  have  taken 
the  alarm,  and  are  at  ^vork."  Notwithstanding  the  re- 
sistance attempted  to  be  made  by  the  "  old  hands,"  the 
voice  of  the  people  was  irresistible.  The  legislature, 
overwhelmed  by  the  multitude  of  petitions,  sustained  by 
a  vast  array  of  names  from  all  parts  of  the  State,  yielded 
to  the  pressure,  and  passed  the  required  law  for  calling 
a  Convention  to  frame  a  new  Constitution  for  Pennsyl- 
vania. Eush  again  writes  to  Pickering,  in  jubilant 
spirits,  but  still  adhering  to  his   favorite  simile. 

"Philadelphia,  September  21st,  1789. 

"  Dear  Sm, 

"  The  Continental  wagon  having  at  last  overset  our  Penn- 
sylvania dung-cart,  I  take  the  liberty  of  concurring  Avith  your 
other  city  friends  in  urging  you  to  accept  a  seat  in  the  Con- 
vention. You  will  be  both  necessary  and  useful  there.  From 
the  present  temper  of  our  people,  and  from  the  principles  *of 
some  of  the  gentlemen  Avho  will  take  a  lead  in  the  business,  we 
bid  fair  to  have  one  of  the  best  governments  in  the  Union. 

"  I  enclose  you  an  ironical  composition  in  favor  of  Rum. 
Perhaps  it  may  do  good,  if  read  in  some  of  your  Wyoming 
circles.     It  has  been  ascribed  to  yours  sincerely,  &;c.'^ 

A  few  davs  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  Colonel  Pick- 
ering  set  out  for  Philadelphia,  on  business  connected 
wdth  his  county.  On  the  way,  he  ranged  among  the 
mountains  and  woods  in  search  of  a  stray  cow,  which  he 


LIFE   OF   TDIOTHY  PICKERIN'G.  431 

« 

succeeded  in  finding,  and  made  arrangements  to  have 
her  driven  back  to  his  farm.  He  then  proceeded  on  his 
journey.  At  Lehigh,  September  29th,  he  wrote  to  his 
wife  :  "  The  bearer,  Mr.  ElUcott,  has  handed  me  a  packet 
of  letters,  some  of  which  I  enclose  to  you.  By  Mr. 
Coxe's  and  Dr.  Rush's,  you  will  see  it  is  wished  I  may 
represent  Luzerne  in  the  State  Convention ;  and  I  wish 
it  myself.  The  business  of  altering  and  amending  the 
Constitution  is  important.  There  will  be  sensible  and 
learned  debates,  wiiich  I  shall  be  pleased  to  hear,  and 
perhaps  I  may  do  some  good  myself.  If  it  is  proposed 
to  the  electors  by  a  few  of  my  friends,  I  presume  I  shall 
obtain  a  majority  of  votes.  I  have  written  a  line  to  Mr. 
Bow^man,  about  the  election  to  the  Convention,  and  if 
you  please,  you  may  let  him  read  Mr.  Coxe's,  Dr.  Rush's, 
and  Mr.  Hodgdon's  letters."  Again,  on  the  10th  of 
October,  he  writes  :  '•  I  was  not  unaware  that  my  ab- 
sence w^ould  be  inconvenient  if  I  w^ere  elected  for  the 
Convention.  But  I  believed  the  session  would  be  short ; 
and  I  am  persuaded  it  will  be  so,  for  the  alterations 
and  amendments  of  the  Constitution  will  be  considered 
and  prepared  beforehand  by  some  gentlemen  here  ;  and 
what  they  do  will  bid  fair  to  be  adopted.  I  should  be 
pleased  to  be  a  member,  because  it  would  ensure  one 
vote  for  amendments,  which  I  deem  so  necessary  for  the 
welfare  of  the  State.  Perhaps,  too,  I  may  be  something 
useful,  besides  giving  my  vote."  Colonel  Pickering  was 
elected  to  the  Convention,  although  absent  from  the 
county  at  the  time,  as  was  the  case  two  years  before 
when  chosen  to  the  Convention  that  ratified,  for  Penn- 
sylvania, the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  Writing 
again  to  his  wife,  November  4th,  he  says  :  — 


432  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  TICKERING. 

"  I  should  have  been  extremely  glad  to  have  seen  you  and 
the  family  before  I  meet  the  Convention ;  but  when  I  con- 
sidered that  only  twenty  days  intervene,  and  that  eight  of 
them  would  be  spent  in  going  and  returning,  —  Avhen  I  Avished 
to  be  here  before  the  Convention  should  meet,  to  prepare  my- 
self for  the  business,  —  and  seeing  Gore  and  Butler  earnestly 
requested  me  to  stay  about  the  Wyoming  lands,  which  are 
expected  to  come  before  the  Assembly,  I  judged  it  best  to  re- 
main here,  especially  as  it  is  now  too  late  to  mend  what  has 
been  done  in  my  husbandry  affairs,  or  supply  what  has  been 
omitted.  I  am  grieved  when  I  reflect,  as  I  often  do,  how 
many  burthens  I  am  obliged  to  throw  upon  you.  Bear  up 
under  them,  my  dear  Beckey,  a  little  longer.  I  hope  never 
to  leave  you  again  so  encumbered." 

He  wrote  at  every  opportunity,  generally  several  times 
a  week,  to  bis  wife,  giving  as  usual,  in  the  minutest  detail, 
and  often  at  great  length,  directions  and  advice  in  refer- 
ence to  household  affairs  and  the  management  of  the  farm, 
so  as  to  leave  as  little  care  and  weight  upon  her  mind  as 
possible.  From  these  letters,  passages  relating  to  the 
Convention  are  culled,  at  dates  that  will  be  specified. 
That  body  convened  November  2-4 th,  1789. 

"  December  5th.  —  I  fear,  with  you,  my  dear,  that  my  ab- 
sence has  injured  my  farming  business.  This,  I  hope,  will  be  the 
last  sacrifice  I  shall  make  in  this  way.  If,  finally,  an  excellent 
Constitution  for  this  State  should  be  formed,  of  which  I  have 
sanguine  hopes,  I  shall  not  regret  my  loss  of  time.  For, 
though  I  can  have  but  little  hand  in  its  formation,  yet  I  shall 
reflect  with  pleasure  that  I  was  a  contributor^  according  to  my 
ability,  and  that  my  endeavors  were  pointed  singly  to  the  pub- 
lic good.  The  debates  are  a  daily  source  of  information  and 
satisfaction.  The  three  foundation  principles  have  been  sub- 
stantially agreed  on,  —  that  is,  two  branches  to  the  legislature, 
a  single  Executive,  with  a  qualified  negative  on  the  legislative 
acts,  and  an  independent  judiciary.  There  appears  so  good  a 
disposition  in  most  of  the  members  of  the  Convention,  I  hope  we 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  433 

shall  get  happily  through  the  formation  of  the  Constitution ; 
but  it  will  take  more  time  than  I  expected,  probably  till  new- 
year's-day  at  least.  Have  patience,  my  dear  Beckey,  this 
once.  God  forbid  I  should  ever  again  leave  you  so  long,  and 
so  burthened  with  business,  even  for  considerations  more 
weighty  than  those  which  occasion  my  present  absence." 

On  the  9tb,  he  repeats  the  same  anxious  solicitude 
and  distress  of  mind  at  the  thought  of  her  being  left  so 
long  under  the  heavy  charge  of  his  affairs.  '*  With  much 
pain,  I  no^v  inform  you  that  I  am  fearful  the  session  of 
the  Convention  will  continue  a  good  deal  longer  than 
I  at  first  expected.  We  have  made  a  slow  progress 
hitherto." 

"  January  loth,  1790.  —  I  am  yet  to  lament  that  I  can  give 
you  no  kind  of  assurance  when  the  Convention  wdllrise.  Per- 
haps our  work  is  not  two-thirds  done.  All  the  points  which 
we  have  yet  gone  over  do  not  satisfy  all  the  members,  and 
some  of  them  will  be  resumed  and  contended  for.  We  shall, 
most  certainly,  be  sitting  until  the  General  Assembly  meets 
again  the  beginning  of  February.  So  that,  if  Esquire  Gore 
and  Mr.  Butler  come  down  at  that  time,  they  will  find  me 
here  ;  and,  if  the  Convention  should  rise  soon  after,  I  can  ride 
one  of  their  horses  home." 

"  February  15th.  —  The  Convention  still  sitting  ;  and  proba- 
bly will  not  rise  before  the  close  of  this  week.  The  Wj'oming 
business  beino-  before  the  Assemblv,  and  Pennsvlvania  claim- 
ants  pushing  hard  to  repeal  the  confirming  law,  may  occasion 
my  staying  here  the  best  part  of  next  week ;  but  I  hope 
anxiously  to  be  at  home  by  next  Sunday  week." 

While  Colonel  Pickering  took  a  deep  interest  in  the 
proceedings  of  the  Convention,  and  attended  it  faith- 
fully and  punctually  to  the  last  hour  of  its  session,  his 
special  care  was  given  to  insert  in  its  provisions  the 
dutv  of  securing  the  blessimiis  of  education  to  the  whole 
peoi)le.     Chief  Justice  McKean  threw  the  great  weight 

Vol.  II.  28 


434  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

of  his  talents  and  influence  in  favor  of  the  object,  and 
the  principle  was  ingrafted  into  the  Constitution.  But 
on  all  points  Colonel  Pickering  worked  with  vigilant 
zeal  to  establish  an  efficient  and  just  government  in 
Pennsylvania.  He  studied  every  subject  thoroughly, 
and  sought  light  to  guide  his  influence  and  vote  from 
every  quarter.  The  following  letter,  of  February  7th, 
1790,  in  answer  to  his  request  to  have  the  benefit  of  the 
judgment  of  its  distinguished  writer,  is  a  valuable  docu- 
ment, worthy  of  serious  consideration  at  all  times.  Wil- 
liam Bradford  had  been  for  some  time  Attorney-General, 
and  not  long  after  was  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  subsequently  Attorney-General  of 
the  United  States. 


"  Tuesday  Night. 


"Dear  Sir, 

"  Agreeably  to  your  request,  I  have  considered  the  article 
in  the  proposed  plan  of  government,  which  enables  the  party 
accused  before  a  court  of  oyer  and  terminer  to  remove  the 
proceedings  into  the  Supreme  Court.  I  must  take  the  liberty 
of  saying  that  I  do  not  readily  perceive  the  necessity  of  this 
clause.  If  it  is  apprehended  that  the  Justices  of  that  Court 
will  be  incompetent  to  the  task  assigned  them,  the  j^ower  of 
trj'ing  capital  offences  ought  not  to  be  given  to  them.  If 
otherwise,  there  can  be  no  reason  in  preventing  them  from 
exercising  it.  It  is  the  opinion  of  Beccaria,  and  all  enlight- 
ened philosophers  on  this  subject,  that  punishment  should 
follow  the  crime  as  quickly  as  possible  ;  but  the  clause  in 
question  proceeds  on  a  different  principle,  and  its  natural 
operation  is  to  postpone  the  punishment  till  the  rem^embrance 
and  detestation  of  the  crime  is  weakened  or  lost. 

"  As  the  law  stands  in  England  at  present,  a  Certiorari  is 
never  granted  by  the  Court  of  King's  Bench^*^the  suit  of  a 
defendant,  in  an  indictment,  without  somt  special  cause. 
This  has  been  the  law  for  ages  there.  It  has  been  the  law  of 
Pennsylvania  ever  since  it  had  a  form  of  government,  and  I 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  435 

find  the  proAdsion  expressly  inserted  in  one  of  our  earliest 
acts  for  establishing  courts  of  judicature.  This  practice  has 
never  been  complained  of  in  England,  and  J  have  not  heard 
of  any  real  inconvenietice  it  has  produced  in  this  country. 
The  whole  clause,  therefore,  might  be  safely  omitted. 

"  But  if  some  provision  is  to  be  made  on  this  subject,  I 
conceive  it  ought  to  be  a  qualified  one.  As  the  clause  stands, 
it  is  merely  a  shelter  for  guilt.  The  innocent  will  court  a 
speedy  trial ;  the  guilty  alone  will  avoid  it.  By  them  the 
indictments  will  be  removed,  of  course.  They  will  not  dread 
the  expense  ;  and,  as  the  nisi  prius  courts  are  held  in  some 
counties  but  once  in  two  years,  and  in  the  rest  annually, 
there  will  be  an  hundred  chances  of  escape,  arising  from  the 
weakness  of  the  jail,  the  arts  of  corruption,  the  death  or  the 
absence  of  witnesses.  And,  if  nothing  more  is  effected,  yet 
a  rogue  wOl  at  least  have  the  satisfaction  of  being  maintained 
a  year  or  two  in  idleness  at  the  expense  of  the  county,  who 
ought  during  that  time  to  be  at  hard  labor,  or  perhaps  hanged 
as  incorrigible.  When  a  witness  is  a  foreigner  (as  often 
happens),  a  few  months'  delay  will  totallj^  defeat  a  prosecu- 
tion. 

"  The  clause,  therefore,  should  be  so  modified  that,  while 
in  extraordinary  cases  it  may  serve  as  a  shield  for  innocence, 
it  may  not  be  abused  to  the  obstruction  of  justice.  This,  I 
conceive,  may  be  done  by  preserving  the  rule,  which  now 
exists,  of  prohibiting  the  removal  of  indictments,  without 
some  special  cause  be  shown  ;  but  instead  of  referring  the 
party  to  the  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  alone  (who  may 
be  at  too  great  a  distance),  it  may  be  proper  to  give  the 
Court  before  whom  the  cause  is  depending  a  discretionary 
power  of  allowing  or  rejecting  a  certiorari  issued  without  a 
special  allocatur  or  the  fiat  of  the  prosecutor  for  the  Com- 
monwealth. Might  it  not,  therefore,  be  advisable  to  add  to 
the  clause  the  following  restriction,  viz.  :  — 

"  '  But  no  writ  of  removal,  presented  by  the  party  accused, 
shall  be  allowed  by  the  Court  where  the  indictment  shall  be 
depending,  but  upon  special  cause  shown,  unless  the  same 
shall  have  been  specially  awarded  by  the  Supreme  Court.' 

"  This  will  effect  no  change  in  the  law,  except  that  it  will 


436  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

give  the  court  of  oyer  and  terminer  a  concurrent  discre- 
tionary power  with  the  Supreme  Court  of  judging  of  the 
reasonable  cause  upon  which  a  removal  ought  to  take  place. 
I  have  chosen  the  words  '  special  cause,'  because  these  are 
the  words  used  in  our  law  books,  and  to  which  a  pretty 
definite  meaning  has  become  affixed.  I  believe  this  restriction 
Avill  be  sufficient  to  prevent  most  of  the  evils  I  have  mentioned. 
"  AVith  sentiments  of  great  regard,  I  am,  Sir,  your  most 
obedient  servant, 

"  W.  Bradford. 

''  Hon.  T.  Pickering,  Esq." 

While  the  Constitutional  Convention  was  in  session, 
Colonel  Pickering  paid  a  visit  to  Charles  Thomson,  the 
Secretary  of  the  old  Congress  during  the  whole  period 
of  its  existence,  from  ITTtt  to  the  close  of  1789.  His 
name  stands  recorded  on  the  journals  and  proceedings 
of  that  body,  which  carried  the  United  States  gloriously 
through  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  made  way  for  the 
establishment  of  the  nation  under  the  Constitution  of 
the  Federal  government.  Writing  to  his  wife,  Decem- 
ber 16th,  1789,  and  mentioning  that  he  had  been  to 
Belmont,  the  seat  of  his  friend  Richard  Peters,  Colonel 
Pickerins:  savs  :  — 

''  I  had  not  been  at  Belmont  for  six  weeks  till  last  Sunday. 
I  lodged  there  ;  and  the  next  day  Mr.  Peters  and  I  went  to 
see  Charles  Thomson,  who  lives  six  or  seven  miles  above  him. 
He  was  very  glad  to  see  us.  We  dined  there.  He  has 
fitted  up  a  small  stone  house  very  neatly,  and  has  a  fine  farm 
of  six  hundred  acres,  on  wliich  he  intends  to  live  the  residue 
of  his  days.  It  is  in  bad  order,  owing  to  its  having  been 
many  years  in  the  hands  of  tenants.  It  will  take  him  the 
rest  of  his  life  to  bring  it  into  complete  order  ;  but  this,  though 
attended  with  trouble,  wiU  be  a  constant  source  of  pleasure : 
for  nothing  is  so  agreeable,  nothing  excites  perpetual  cheer- 
fulness, hke  improvements  growing  up  under  our  own  care 
and  management.     The  plantation  belonged  to  Mrs.  Thorn- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  437 

son's  father.  Slie  asked  about  jou,  and  desired  me  to  pre- 
sent YOU  her  respects,  ^fr.  Thomson  has  been  in  the  public 
service  ever  since  the  year  1774,  with  a  handsome  salary ; 
yet  he  seriously  declares  he  has  not  benefited  in  point  of 
wealth  :  on  the  contrarv,  he  savs,  his  fortune  is  rather  im- 
paired.  Yet  you  know  they  have  no  children  to  support. 
On  the  arrangement  of  the  new  government,  no  office  was 
provided  for  him.  He  retired  from  Congress  about  August 
last,"  I  think  somewhat  chagrined.  But  this  will  wear  off ; 
and,  as  he  and  his  wife  have  a  competent  fortune,  they  will  hve 
more  happily  than  ever  in  their  present  retirement ;  at  least, 
he  will  be  happy.  He  is  a  man  of  sense  and  learning,  and, 
in  the  intervals  of  attention  to  farming,  will  indulge  his  taste 
for  reading.  He  is  now  revising  his  translation  of  the  Bible, 
which  perhaps  may  one  day  be  published  to  the  world.  He 
will  soon  enjoy  what  every  man  of  understanding  would  deem 
the  best  ambition  towards  the  close  of  life,  '  leisure  and  ease, 
with  dignity.'  " 

The  Convention   took  a  recess,  early  in  April  ;  but 

Colonel    Pickering  was   still  detained   at  Philadelphia. 

On  the  6th  of  April  he  wrote  thus  to  his  wife.     The 

"  situation  "  he  regrets  not  to  have  obtained  was  that  of 

Surveyor-General  of  Pennsylvania,  which  his  friends,  as 

has  been    mentioned,   had    endeavored    to    procure  for 

him. 

"  ^Iy  Dear  Beckey, 
"  When  shall  I  see  vou  ?  When  shall  I,  bv  more  assiduous 
attentions  and  increased  kindness,  make  you  amends  for  the 
many  burthens  my  untoward  fate  has  thrown  upon  you  ? 
Six  months  I  have  been  absent !  I  am  alarmed  at  the 
thought  :  when  everv  things  has  contributed  to  render  you 
the  more  unhappy.  Disappointments  in  respect  to  a  change 
of  situation  in  prospect,  and  all  ni}'  farming  affairs  misman- 
aged, or  suffering  for  want  of  a  very  little  attention.  All 
these  things  are  constant  sources  of  vexation  ;  and  the  more, 
as  my  finances  are  in  ill  condition  to  encounter  any  losses. 
To  crown  all,  the  confirming  law  repealed  !     I  have  not  been 


438  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   nCKERIXG. 

able  on  different  occasions  to  refrain  from  adopting  the  lan- 
guage, '  All  these  things  are  against  me.'  But  we  are  short- 
sighted creatures,  and  know  not  what  a  da}^  may  bring  forth. 
'Tis  by  numerous  disappointments  we  are  taught  to  philoso- 
phize ;  by  repeated  crosses  and  troubles,  we,  if  ever,  learn 
the  duties  and  excellencies  of  Christianity.  For  myself,  I 
confess,  I  am  not  cast  down.  Every  j)ainful  sensation  I 
feel  arises  from  my  concern  for  my  dear  Beckey  and  her 
lovely  boys.  It  was  my  ardent  wish  to  have  been  in  a  situa- 
tion which  would  afford  a  prospect  of  ease  and  tranquillity 
for  the  residue  of  our  days,  especially  in  the  decline  of  life. 
I  hoped,  also,  to  have  been  able  to  have  placed  our  sons  in 
eligible  situations  as  they  grew  up.  Whether  this  wish  and 
this  hope  will  ever  be  accomplished,  time  only  can  unfold. 
But  my  expectations,  however,  are  very  moderate  :  it  is  best 
the}^  should  be  ;  it  will  soften  disappointment. 

"  You  will  be  surprised  not  to  see  me  with  Mr.  Gore  and 
Mr.  Butler.     I  shall  wait  for  one  more  disappointment.''^ 

What  i,s  referred  to  in  this  last  sentence  will  shortly 
appear.  It -is  best,  in  the  first  place,  to  despatch,  once 
for  all,  the  matter  of  the  ^'  confirming  law,"  as  the 
reader  will  naturally  desire  to  know  how  that  long  and 
vexations  business  was  ended.  A  letter  to  Mrs.  Picker- 
ing, dated  x\pril  8th,  thus  speaks  of  it :  — 

"  I  hope  the  people  will  not  be  disheartened  about  the  re- 
peal of  the  confirming  law.  Every  disinterested  man  of 
sound  judgment  condemns  the  repeal,  and  says  it  will  avail 
nothing  to  the  Pennsylvania  claimants.  Man}^  members  of 
the  Assembly,  who  voted  for  the  repeal,  have  since  said 
openly  that  they  suppose  the  Connecticut  claimants  will  hold 
the  lands ;  but,  the  Pennsylvania  claimants  having  generally 
desired  the  re])eal,  they  were  willing  to  gratify  them,  and  thus 
rid  the  State  of  the  burthen  of  the  compensation.  The 
people  ought  not  to  blame  me.  I  have  done  every  thing  in 
my  power  to  prevent  the  repeal,  and  am  determined  to  stand 
by  them  to  the  last.     How  great  and  laborious  have  been 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  439 

my  exertions  in  this  affair,  I  expect  ]\Ir.  Gore  and  'Mr.  Butler 
will  inform  the  people.  A  part  of  my  labor  you  will  see  in 
the  enclosed  statement  of  facts  and  observations,  which  I  laid 
before  the  Committee  of  the  House  while  the  matter  was  un- 
der their  consideration.  Xo  doubt  Franklin  and  Jenkins,  and 
a  few  others,  may  triumph.  But  they  have  no  cause :  it  is 
owing  to  their  unwarranted  schemes  and  measures  that  the 
commissioners  were  interrupted  in  the  examination  of  the 
claims,  which  alone  gave  a  handle  first  to  suspend  and  then 
to  repeal  the  law.  Mr.  Lewis  (the  ablest  lawyer  in  the  State) 
and  Mr.  Rawle  (another  lawyer),  both  members  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  have  protested  against  the  repeal.  Mr.  Peters 
joins  them  in  the  opinion  that  the  repeal  will  avail  nothing. 
The  opinions  of  these  three  gentlemen  will  have  more  weight 
with  men  of  sense,  than  the  opinions  of  as  many  hundreds  of 
such  men  as  those  who  voted  for  the  repeal.  Mr.  Morris, 
Mr.  Clymer,^a€id  Air.  Fitzsimons,  all  celebrated  characters, 
are  entirely  and  warmly  on  our  side.  Doctor  Johnson,  of 
Connecticut  (whom  the  people  of  \yyoming  know),  is  of  the 
same  opinion,  —  that  the  confirming  laws  cannot  be  made  void. 
My  letter  to  him  on  the  subject,  and  his  answer,  I  also  enclose, 
as  w^ell  as  a  letter  from  Judge  Brearly,  who  was  one  of  the 
Commissioners  of  the  Federal  Court  at  Trenton.  I  enclose 
also  a  copy  of  a  second  letter  from  Doctor  Johnson.  Be  care- 
ful of  all  these  papers ;  and  if  Mr.  Bowman  lends  them  to 
others  to  be  read,  desire  him  to  take  the  necessary  caution 
against  their  being  lost.  I  wish  them  to  be  read  by  all  who 
are  honestly  desirous  of  obtaining  information  on  the  subject. 
Adieu  I  T.  Pickering." 

Thus  ended  Colonel  Pickering's  connection  with  the 
Wyoming  land  controversy.  It  was  so  extraordinary 
in  many  of  its  incidents,  and  involved  him  in  so  much 
responsibility,  labor,  and  experience  of  personal  trial 
and  suflfering,  that  it  demanded  a  place  in  his  biog- 
raphy ;  and  the  subject,  that  his  relation  to  it  might  be 
understood,  required  the  extended  treatment  which  is 
here  brought  to  a  close. 


440  LIFE   or   TIMOTHY  TICKERIXG. 

The  "  one  more  disappointment,"  for  which  he  waited 
in  Phihidelphia,  actually  took  place.  The  annoyances 
he  met  with  in  public  life,  and  particularly  those  accom- 
panying applications  for  office,  sometimes  almost  led  him 
to  abjure  all  further  employments  outside  of  the  most  pri- 
vate sphere.  Writing  to  his  wife,  he  says,  '•  There  is  noth- 
ing I  would  more  earnestly  pray  for  in  respect  to  my  sons, 
than  that  they  might  engage  in  such  private  pursuits  as 
to  preclude  even  the  wish  for  a  public  employment."  In 
a  letter  to  his  brother,  after  expressing  his  regret  at  the 
failure  of  his  friends  to  secure  for  him  the  office  of  Sur- 
veyor-General of  Pennsylvania,  he  repeats  the  senti- 
ment thus,  —  "If  God  spares  my  life  till  my  sons  grow 
up,  I  shftU  endeavor  to  put  them  to  employments  by 
which,  they  may  support  themselves  independently  of 
any  public  offices ;  for  that  alone  can  give  and  insure  an 
independence  of  spirit  and  that  dignity  of  mind,  which, 
while  it  renders  the  individual  happy,  does  honor  to 
human  nature." 

While  his  mind  was  full  of  such  ideas,  and  he  was  ready 
to  start  for  home,  and  turn  his  back  upon  office-holding 
and  office-seeking,  on  the  evening  of  April  5th,  1790,  his 
friend  xlndrew  Ellicott  called  upon  him  at  his  lodgings,  in- 
forming him  that  Mr.  Duer  had  resigned  the  office  of  As- 
sistant to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  Mr.  Ellicott  had 
just  arrived  from  New  York,  and  he  was  sure  of  the 
fact.  He  expressed  a  full  conviction  that  Colonel  Pick- 
ering had  only  to  make  application  to  obtain  the  office. 
Major  Hodgdon  also  strongly  urged  him  to  ask  for  the 
situation.  It  was  one,  too,  for  which  he  felt  himself 
fully  competent,  and  its  duties  would  be  agreeable  to 
him.     The  attraction  prevailed.     He  wrote  to  his  wife, 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  441 

"It  is,  perhaps,  the  last  time  that  I  shall  ever  apply  for 
an  office."  The  next  morning's  post  carried  the  follow- 
ing application  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  The 
friendship  that  had  long  existed  between  them  gave  to 
the  communication  the  ordinary  character  of  a  letter, 
of  which   the   first  draught  was  this :  — 

"  Philadelphia,  April  6tli,  1790. 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  Last  evening  a  gentleman  called  on  me  to  inform  me  of 
Mr.  Duer's  resignation,  and  to  urge  me  to  apply  for  the  vacant 
office.  Having  since  reflected  on  a  variety  of  circumstances 
wliicli  would  render  the  office  eligible,  I  have  concluded  to 
make  known  to  you  my  willingness  to  take  it,  if  you,  who 
know  me  perfectly  well,  think  I  can  give  you  the  aid  you 
would  wish  for,  and  expect,  in  an  assistant. 

"  When  I  went  to  Wyoming  three  years  ago,  vested  with 
the  office  of  Prothonotary  and  the  four  other  offices  usually 
annexed  to  it  in  a  new  county,  I  supposed  I  was  fixed  for 
life.  But  a  train  of  disasters  and  a  ruinous  expense  have 
attended  my  removal ;  and,  in  the  conclusion,  my  reward 
from  the  legislature,  for  my  services  and  sufferings  in  intro- 
ducing the  laws  and  government  of  this  State -into  that  coun- 
try, is  the  repeal  of  tnat^law'by'nvhich  the,  disputed  lands 
were  confirmed  to  the  C  nnecticut  claimants,  and  under  the 
faith  of  which  I  purchased  a  farm  and  erected  the  necessary 
buildings ;  a  law,  too,  which  I  pledged  myself  to  those  peo- 
ple that  the  legislature  would  never  repeal. 

"  The  education  of  seven  sons  is  a  powerful  motive  to  this 
applicatiou.  The  repeal  of  the  confirming  law  will  keep  the 
Wyoming  settlement  in  a  situation  which  will  probably,  for 
several  years,  prevent  the  establishment  of  a  tolerable  school. 

"  I  int-ended  to  set  out  for  W3^oming  to-morrow,  but  will 
now  wait  your  answer.  If  the  office  should  remain  vacant, 
and  be  conferred  on  me,  it  would  nevertheless  be  absohitely 
necessary  for  me,  before  I  should  go  to  New  York,  to  visit  my 
family  and  let  my  farm. 

''  Yours,  &c." 


442  LIFE   OF    TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

"  The  letter  was  sent  under  cover  addressed  to  Colonel 
Pickering's  brother-in-law,  Paine  Wingate,  Delegate  to 
the  old  Congress,  as  has  been  stated,  from  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  one  of  the  first  Senators  from  that  State  in  the 
new  Congress,  with  a  request  for  him  to  deliver  it,  in 
person,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  It  was  im- 
mediately attended  to  by  Mr.  Wingate,  as  appears  by 
this  letter  from  him  to  Colonel  Pickering  :  — 

"  New  York,  April  8th,  1790. 

"  I  have  this  day  received  your  favor,  dated  the  6th  instant, 
and  have  seen  Colonel  Hamilton  and  given  him  your  letter. 
He  told  me  that  the  hurry  of  his  business  would  not  admit 
him  to  write  you  an  answer  at  present ;  but  wished  that  I 
would  inform  you  from  him,  that,  in  casting  about  in  his  mind 
for  an  assistant,  you  had  not  occurred  to  him,  and  that  he  had 
made  a  proposal  to  a  gentleman  (whom  he  did  not  name),  who, 
of  course,  had  the  option  of  the  place  ;  that,  however,  if 
that  person  should  decline,  which  was  possible,  though  he 
rather  thought  not  probable,  he  shou  d  think  very  favorably 
of  your  proposal ;  that  he  knew  your  abilities  and  fitness 
for  the  place.  He  desired  that  the  purport  of  the  above 
might  be  communicated  to  you,  and  observed  that  there  would 
not  be  a  propriety  in  pledging  himself  more  positively.  I 
have  no  doubt  of  his  sincerity  in  what  he  said,  and  think  you 
would  have  the  offer,  if  the  place  had  not  been  disposed  of 
too  far  to  retract,  unless  the  gentleman  should  decline,  which 
I  do  not  expect,  but  should  be  very  glad  to  see.  I  believe 
the  place  might  answer  the  purpose,  and  be  in  the  way  to 
something  betteii,  but  I  had  not  thought  of  it  before.  I  sup- 
pose the  reason  was,  that  it  was  not  the  head  of  a  department, 
and  the  emoluments  not  considerable.  I  most  heartily  wish 
to  see  you  in  the  government,  and  think  it  will  be,  somehow 
or  other,  before  long.  I  am  sorry  for  the  perplexities  you  are 
meeting  with  as  to  those  lands  in  controversy ;  but  hope  that 
which  at  present  appears  unfortunate  will  be  the  means  of 
putting  you  into  a  situation  more  useful  to  the  public,  more 
advantageous  to  yourself,  and  more  agreeable  to  your  friends." 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  443 

It  turned  out  that  Colonel  Pickering's  competitor  for 
the  office  was  his  friend,  correspondent,  and  intimate 
associate.  Tench  Coxe,  a  man  of  genius  and  talent,  a 
great  proficient  and  writer  on  subjects  of  political  econ- 
omy, trade,  and  manufactures.  Hamilton  knew  that  he 
had  studied  the  resources  of  the  country,  favored  many 
of  his  views,  and  had,  no  doubt,  conferred  with  him  on 
topics  within  the  sphere  of  the  financial  department  of 
the  government.  It  is  probable  that  he  had  encouraged 
him  to  apply  for  the  office  ;  and  the  only  ground  on 
which  he  expressed  to  Mr.  Wingate  a  doubt  whether  he 
would  accept  it  was,  that  Mr.  Coxe  might,  upon  hearing 
that  Colonel  Pickering  was  a  candidate  for  it,  step  aside 
in  his  favor. 

Understanding  that  Mr.  Coxe  was  an  applicant,  Pick- 
ering thought  that  the  relations  between  them  demanded 
the  most  frank  communication,  and  immediatelv  obtained 
an  interview  with  him,  which  is  thus  described  in  a  let- 
ter to  Richard  Peters,  dated,  Philadelphia,  April  9th, 
1790:  — 

"  Since  I  parted  with  you  yesterday,  I  have  seen  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  I  mentioned  to  you  in  connection  with  an 
office.  He  has  with  great  candor  recited  to  me  the  motives 
of  his  application.  You  will  recollect  that  I  told  you,  our 
several  applications  were  transmitted  by  the  same  i30st,  with- 
out any  knowledge  of  each  other's  intentions  ;  and  that  1 
accounted  for  his  application,  from  the  business  of  the  office 
being  congenial  with  the  bent  of  his  mind,  and  his  having 

had  a  constant  intercourse  with ,  to  whom  he  had  made 

many  useful  communications  relative  to  his  department  ;  and 
that,  by  his  talents  and  professional  knowledge,  he  could  ren- 
der the  pubUc  very  valuable  service,  and,  therefore,  that  I 
should  be  perfectly  satisfied  in  his  appointment.  He  has  now 
told  me,  that  his  present  profession  was  never  pleasing  to  him  ; 


444  LIFE   OF   TmOTIIY  nCKEKING. 

that  to  relinquisli  it  would  liave  been  agreeable  ;  and  that, 
having  for  two  or  three  years  past,  devoted  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  the  great  objects  of  the  Union,  to  the  prejudice  of 
his  private  affairs,  a  change  for  a  public  employment  is  become 
really  desirable.  In  a  word,  the  like  reasons  appear  to  have 
induced  Im  application,  as  have  sometimes  led  you  and  me  to 
convcj'se  on  public  offices,  in  which,  while  we  should  usefully 
serve  our  country,  we  might  derive  those  advantages  to  our- 
selves which  ought  ever  to  be  contemplated  by  men  who 
have  wives  and  children  (affecting  names)  depending  on 
their  labors  for  an  agreeable  present  support  and  future  es- 
tablishment in  life.  Thus  much  it  seemed  proper  for  me  to 
say  of  the  gentleman  referred  to,  whether  he  should  or  should 
not  be  the  successful  candidate.  Both  of  us,  perhaps,  are  ex- 
pecting what  may  already  have  been  disposed  of ;  but  neither 
of  us,  I  am  sure,  will  sensibly  feel  the  disappointment.  He 
because  he  has  a  fortune  under  his  foot ;  I,  because  I  am 
above  want.  Accustomed  in  early  life  to  occasional  labor, 
I  resort  to  it  without  reluctance ;  and,  when  following  the 
plough,  shall  feel  as  grateful  and  as  happy  as  another  who  is 
basking  in  the  sunshine  of  power. 

'*  With  affectionate  esteem,  I  am  truly  yours, 

"T.  Pickering." 

"  To  R.  Peters,  Esq." 

Mr.  Coxe,  while  candidly  explaining  to  Colonel  Pick- 
ering the  reasons  that  had  led  him  to  apply  for  the  office, 
and  acknowledging  that  the  discharge  of  its  duties  would 
be  particularly  agreeable,  openly  declared  to  others  that, 
had  he  known  that  Pickering  desired  it,  he  certainly 
should  not  have  applied  for  the  situation,  and  further 
said  that  he  sincerely  hoped  that  the  Colonel  would  be 
appointed  ;  in  short,  that  considering  his  services,  charac- 
ter, and  condition,  he  ought  to  have  it.  But,  as  the  sequel 
will  show,  Washington  had  other  things  in  view^  as  to 
Colonel  Pickering,  of  Avhich,  however,  at  the  time,  the 
latter  had  no  intimation,  and  Mr.  Coxe  w^as  appointed, 
according  to  the  original  arrangement. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  445 

The  whole  affair  was  most  honorable  to  all  the  parties 
concerned. 

Colonel  Pickering,  having  no  longer  occasion  to  re- 
main in  Philadelphia,  returned  at  last  to  Wyoming.  Al- 
though disappointed,  he  was  not  cast  down.  '•  Following 
his  plough ;"  placed  "  above  actual  want  "  by  his  experi- 
ence and  love  of  labor,  by  frugal  habits,  and  simple  tastes 
and  desires,  and  rich  in  purity  and  integrity  of  soul,  a  con- 
science void  of  offence,  and  trust  in  God,  —  he  was  still  a 
grateful  and  happy  man.  This  interesting  passage  of 
his  life  was  concluded  by  the  interchange  of  the  follow- 
ing letters :  — 

"  New  York,  May  13th,  1790. 

''  Dear  Sik, 

"  The  offer  of  your  service,  as  successor  to  Mr.  Duer, 
reached  me  in  due  time. 

"  I  can,  with  truth,  assure  you  that  you  were  one  of  a  very 
small  number  who  held  a  competition  in  my  judgment,  and 
that,  had  personal  considerations  alone  influenced  me,  I  could, 
with  difficulty,  have  preferred  another.  Reasons  of  a  peculiar 
nature,  however,  have  determined  my  choice  towards  Mr. 
Tench  Coxe,  who,  to  great  industry  and  very  good  talents, 
adds  an  extensive  theoretical  and  practical  knowledge  of 
trade. 

"  Allow  me  to  say  that,  knowing  as  I  now  do,  your  views 
to  public  life,  I  shall,  from  conviction  of  your  worth,  take 
pleasure  in  promoting  them  ;  and  I  hope  an  opportunity 
will  not  be  long  wantiug. 

"  I  remain,  with  sincere  esteem  and  warm  regard,  dear  Sir, 
your  obedient  servant, 

"A.  Hamilton". 

"  Timothy  Pickering,  Esq." 

"  WiLKESBARRE,  July  20th,  1790. 

"  Dear  Sir, 
"  Conveyances  to  and  from  this  place  rarely  offer  ;  which, 
I  suppose,  prevented  my  receiving  your  favor  of  May  13th 
until  a  few  days  past. 


446  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

*'  In  appointments  to  public  employments,  when  I  had  such 
to  make,  I  am  not  conscious  that  personal  considerations  ever 
influenced  my  choice.  The  same  principle  determines  me  to 
be  satisfied  ;  and,  if  you  will  allow  the  expression,  to  approve 
of  your  appointment  of  the  successor  to  Mr.  Duer.  The  very 
causes  of  preference  mentioned  by  you,  led  me  to  expect  that 
preference  would  be  given  ;  and,  under  similar  circumstances, 
I  hope  I  possess  sufficient  independence  of  mind  to  have  done 
the  same. 

"  I  feel  myself  greatly  obliged  by  your  friendly  assurances  of 
promoting  my  views  to  public  life  and  your  expressions  of 
personal  regard  for  me  ;  but  whether  your  endeavors  to  serve 
me  should  or  should  not  be  successful,  and  if  I  for  ever  remain 
in  obscurity,  yet  1  shall  never  forget  those  qualities  and  talents 
which,  during  an  acquaintance  of  twelve  years  with  you,  have 
commanded  my  affection  and  respect. 

"  With  the  utmost  sincerity,  I  remain,  dear  Sir,  your  obe- 
dient servant, 

"  Temothy  Pickeeing. 

"  Honorable  Alexander  Hamilton,  Esq." 


LIFE   OF  TDIOTHY  PICKERING.  447 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

The  First  Consrress  under  the  Constitution.  —  Colonel  Pickerinsj's 

t  Mission  to  the  Seneca  Indians.  —  His  Views  as  to  the  Educa- 

1  tion   and   Civilization   of  the    Indians.  —  Declines  the   Office 

of  Sui:)erintendent  of  the  Northern   Indians.  —  Declines  the 

Office  of  Quartermaster  of  the  Western  Army.  —  Mission  to 

the   Six    Xations.  —  Appointed    Postmaster-General    of   the 

'  United  States.  —  Letter  to  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania. 

1789-1791. 

At  the  opening  of  the  Federal  government,  Paine 
Wingate,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  one  of  the  Senators 
from  Xew  Hampshire.  His  letters  at  the  time,  while 
continuing  the  thread  of  Colonel  Pickering's  Biography, 
are  interesting  and  valuable,  as  from  an  eye-witness  and 
immediate  participator  in  the  first  movements  of  the 
political  machinery  under  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States.     Some  extracts  from  them  are  now  presented  :  — 

"  New  Yoek,  March  25th,  1789. 

"  I  am  again  returned  to  this  place,  in  a  situation  which  I 
did  not  calculate  uj)on  last  year,  when  I  left  it.  [After  stat- 
ing that  it  was  five  weeks  since  he  passed  through  Salem,  on 
his  way  to  take  his  seat  in  Congress,  he  continues  :]  To  our 
no  small  disappointment  and  mortification,  we  have  not  yet 
been  able  to  make  a  quorum  of  either  House  [they  had  been 
waiting  since  the  4th  of  March],  but  have  reason  to  expect 
that,  this  day,  there  will  be  a  sufficient  number  of  the  Repre- 
sentatives, four  more  only  being  now  necessary.  I  wish  the 
prospect  of  tlie  Senate  was  equally  favorable.  New  York 
have  not  chosen  their  Senators.  Several  of  those  chosen  are 
detained  by  sickness,  and  others  by  some  unfortunate  circum- 
stances, so  that  our  sole  dependence  for  a  quorum  immedi- 
ately is  on  a  single  gentleman  from  Delaware.     He  had  not 


448  LlfE  OF  TIMOTHY  TICKERING. 

designed  to  come  on  until  the  lOtli  of  April,  bat,  in  conse- 
quence of  letters  informing  liim  of  our  situation,  it  is  hoped 
that  he  will  be  here  this  week. 

*'  As  we  have  not  made  a  Congress,  the  votes  for  President 
and  Vice-President  cannot  be  opened.  However,  it  is  Avell 
known  that  General  Washington  is  unanimously  chosen  Presi- 
dent, and  Mr.  Adams  has  thirty-three  votes  for  Vice-President, 
which  is  a  clear  plurality,  though  not  a  majority.  The  others 
voted  for  are  very  scattering,  and  the  number  of  votes  for  any  is 
very  inconsiderable.  How  the  President  and  Vice-President 
elect  are  to  be  notified  is  not  yet  determined.  Many  are  ap- 
plying for  the  honor  of  being  the  messengers.  Considerable 
time  must  be  taken  up  by  those  gentlemen  in  coming  on,  and 
no  great  business  can  well  be  completed  until  their  arrival. 
Those  delays  are  vicAved  by  many  as  unfavorable  to  the  intro- 
duction of  the  new  government,  and,  at  least  for  a  while,  will 
impede  the  revenue  laws,  which  the  United  States  are  in  dis- 
tress for.  But  patience  must  have  its  perfect  work.  I  cannot 
but  hope  and  believe  that  our  public  aff^iirs  will  bear  a  better 
aspect  soon.  The  members  which  I  have  known  yet  appear 
to  me  to  be  worthy  and  good  characters.  I  think  the  mem- 
bers of  both  Houses  will,  almost  unanimously,  be  firm  friends 
to  the  government.  Those  who  have  heretofore  had  their 
objections  will  be  so  few  that  they  will  probably  not  think  it 
expedient  to  raise  difficulties.  I  am  told  that  your  old  friend, 
Mr.  Gerry,  speaks  very  moderately  upon  the  subject.  No- 
body thinks  that  a  General  Convention  will  be  called.  Pos- 
sibly, in  a  convenient  time.  Congress  may  take  up  the 
consideration  of  amendments  or  alterations^  and  recommend 
some  that  may  quiet  the  fears  and  jealousies  of  the  well- 
designing,  and  not  affect  the  essentials  of  the  present  system. 
I  am  rather  inclined  to  suppose  that  this  cannot  be  attended 
to  immediately,  but  must  be  postponed  for  some  more  impor- 
tant matters.  I  have  some  fears  that  a  dispute  may  arise  as  to 
the  place  where  Congress  shall  sit ;  but  hope  that  an  expe- 
dient plan  will  soon  be  adopted  for  fixing  a  permanent  seat 
for  Congress  without  affecting  our  revenue,  and  that  this  will 
preclude  a  disagreeable  dispute  on  that  head.  New  York 
have  exerted  themselves  mightily,  and,  in  my  opinion,  exces^ 


LIFE   OF    TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  449 

iiveJy^  in  fitting  up  the  Federal  hall.  It  is  said  they  have  ex- 
pended fifty  thousand  dollars  on  the  building.  But  there  are 
some  things  which  will  make  a  continuance  here  long  disa- 
greeable ;  among  others,  the  unreasonable  expense  of  living 
is  not  inconsiderable.  It  is  said  by  some  to  be  one-third 
dearer  than  at  Philadelphia.  I  believe  it  will  be  the  disposi- 
tion of  the  members  in  general  to  reduce  their  own  pay,  as 
well  as  that  of  the  civil  list,  and  the  expense  of  living  ought 
to  be  correspondent.  This  reduction  the  finances  of  the  United 
States  seem  to  require.  How  this  will  suit  the  swarms  of 
office-hunters,  I  don't  know  ;  but  it  may  at  least  rid  us  of  some 
disagreeable  importunities,  and  better  reconcile  the  disap- 
pointed to  their  fate. 

"  And  while  I  am  speaking  of  appointments  I  cannot  for- 
bear expressing  my  earnest  wish  that  you  might  be  placed  in 
one,  where  the  public  would  have  a  renewed  experience  of 
3'Our  integrity,  ability,  industry,  and  economy.  Whether  any 
consideration  would  induce  you  to  quit  your  present  domestic 
and  State  employments,  and  whether  it  would  be  conducive 
to  your  interest  or  your  happiness,  I  cannot  tell ;  but  I  am 
sure  it  will  be  agreeable  to  many  of  your  friends,  and  I  think 
for  the  honor  and  interest  of  your  country.  I  pretend  not  to 
know  what  the  sentiments  of  the  President  will  be  towards 
you,  who  is  well  acquainted  with  you,  nor  what  the  disposi- 
tions of  the  Senators  of  Pennsylvania,  who,  I  conclude,  know 
you.  Nor  do  I  pretend  to  have  any  considerable  share  of 
influence  in  the  Councils  further  than  a  single  vote  ;  but  I 
am  satisfied  that  your  reputation  is  sufficiently  established 
where  partial  considerations  are  out  of  view,  which  I  hope 
will  evidently  be  the  case  in  matters  of  appointment.  I  will 
say  no  more  on  this  head,  only  that  I  wish  to  have  your  senti- 
ments on  what  I  have  now  suggested  as  soon  as  you  have  an 
opportunity.  I  desire  that  you  would  give  me  your  mind 
w  thout  reserve  whether  any  thing,  or  what,  would  be  agree- 
able to  you.  How  long  my  continuance  here  will  be  is  un- 
certain. The  present  session  probably  cannot  be  a  short  one, 
and  the  time  for  which  I  am  elected  will  soon  be  decided  by 
a  lot." 

Vol.  II.  29 


450  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

f  When  a  public  employment  for  which  he  felt  him- 
self competent  was  in  view,  and  his  circumstances  at 
the  time  made  it  desirable  and  important  for  him  to 
obtain  it,  Colonel  Pickering  applied  for  it  directly  to  the 
appointing  power.  It  was  very  disagreeable  to  him  to 
seek  office  in  any  way  ;  but  it  was  particularly  repug- 
nant to  his  feelings  to  solicit  others  to  use  any  influence 
in  his  behalf.  It  is  evident  from  the  preceding  letter 
that  Mr.  Wingate,  his  brother-in-law,  who  had  become 
well  knowai  by  his  service  in  the  old,  and  was  now  a 
Senator  in  the  new,  Congress,  had  not  been  approached 
by  him  on  such  subjects ;  and  when  he  so  urgently 
besought  Colonel  Pickering  to  allow  him  to  serve  him 
in  that  way,  was  quite  aggrieved  that  he  still  shunned 
a  free  communication  of  his  wishes.  "The  close  of 
your  letter,"  says  Wingate,  writing  to  him,  April  29th, 
*'  was  more  delicate  than  was  necessary,  considering  our 
relations  as  brothers."  ^ 

Mr.  Wingate  informs  him  of  what  is  going  on,  and  of 
the  speculations  in  which  people  indulged  about  appoint- 
ments, the  organization  of  the  departments,  and  the  pol- 
icy of  the  administration  generally.  It  seems  there  was 
the  same  importunate  pressure  for  office  then  as  ever 
since.  Writing  July  11th,  he  says,  "  I  know  that  many 
of  your  friends  wish  that  the  public  might  again  have 
your  services  in  some  department  of  government.  I  am 
sensible  that  there  are  crowds  of  seekers  who  want  to 
quarter  themselves  on  the  country,  and  very  likely  in 
many  instances  will  obtain,  to  the  exclusion  of  others 
more  deserving.  I  hope  that  this  will  not  be  universally 
the  case."  "  There  has  been  a  mighty  struggle,  and 
not  a  little  heat,  in  the  House  of  Kepresentatives,  re- 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  451 

specting  the  permanent  residence  of  Congress.  They 
have,  by  a  bare  majority,  ordered  a  bill  to  be  brought 
in  for  fixing  it  on  the  Susquehanna,  and  to  appropriate 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  provide  the  accommo- 
dations. After  all,  I  think  it  doubtful  whether  it  will 
pass  that  House,  and  it  is  more  doubtful  in  the  Senate. 
I  begin  to  be  of  opinion  that  it  will  not  be  expedient  to 
attempt  a  Federal  town  until  the  States  are  more  united 
upon  that  subject  as  well  as  upon  some  others.  We 
seem  disposed  to  contrive  other  ways  enough  for  t)ie 
public  money  without  applying  any  of  it  to  that,  or  to 
paying  the  national  debt." 

After  mentioning  the  appointment  of  "  Colonel  Ham- 
ilton as  Secretary  to  the  Treasury,  at  $3,500  per  annum  ; 
General  Knox,  Secretary  at  War,  at  $3,000,"  and  some 
others,  he  savs  :  "  It  was  the  ardent  wish  of  manv  that 
you  should  have  been  in  some  of  those  important  de- 
partments." 

In  a  letter  dated  August  2d,  1790,  Mr.  Wingate 
says  :  — 

"We  have  at  last  finished  (I  trust)  two  tedious  subjects: 
those  of  residence  and  of  the  funding  system  ;  whether  well 
done  or  not,  time  must  determine.  There  may  perhaps  yet 
he  an  attempt  to  keep  Congress  here  two  years  longer,  but 
I  think  with  very  little  prospect  of  obtaining  it.  I  expect, 
if  nothing  extraordinary  should  prevent,  to  be  at  Philadel- 
phia next  December,  and  should  be  very  happy  to  have  the 
opportunity  of  seeing  you  there,  more  especially  if  you  had 
some  agreeable  appointment  in  the  government  and  was  re- 
moved there.  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Osgood  will  resign  his  place 
when  Congress  shall  remove.  If  his  place  would  be  agreeable 
to  you,  it  is  niy  wish  you  might  obtain  it.  As  the  Post-office 
bill  is  only  contiiuied  until  the  next  session  of  Congress,  I 
suppose  no  new  Postmaster-General  will  be  now  appointed  ; 


452  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKEiaNG. 

but  if  he  sliould  resign  (wliicli  I  hardly  think  likely)  before 
the  next  meeting  of  Congress,  the  President  would  appoint 
one  to  succeed.  I  should  think  the  business  might  not  be 
disagreeable.  /l  think  you  will  probably  see  the  President  at 
Pliiladelpliia,  and  may  it  not  be  worth  while  for  you  to  let 
him  know  your  sentiments  respecting  the  appointment  ?  I 
know  that  it  is  not  your  disposition  to  court  favors,  or  to  urge 
any  thing  from  interested  views  ;  but  you  will  judge  what  is 
proper,  and  act  accordingly.  It  would  be  a  gratification  to 
many  of  your  friends  to  see  you  in  office."  i 

Upon  receiving  this  letter,  and  reflecting  on  its  con- 
tents, he  made  up  his  mind  that  the  place  suggested 
would  be  suitable  and  agreeable,  and  one  in  which  he 
felt  confident  he  could  render  useful  service  to  the 
country.  Friends  whom  he  consulted  were  of  the  same 
opinion.  He  accordingly  wrote  the  following  letter  to 
the  President :  — 

"  Philadelphia,  September  3d,  1790. 

"  Sir, 

"  Generally  speaking,  no  task  could  be  imposed  on  me  so 
ungrateful  as  that  of  applying  for  a  public  office.  In  the 
present  instance,  however,  I  feel  little  reluctance  in  doing  it, 
because  I  know  the  application  will  be  duly  noticed,  and  the 
ultimate  decision,  whether  for  or  against  me,  be  governed  by 
a  just  regard  to  the  interests  of  the  United  States. 

"  By  some  of  my  friends  I  am  informed  that  Mr.  Osgood  is 
determined  to  resign  the  office  of  Postmaster-General,  to  which 
they  wish  me  to  succeed.  They  represent  it  as  an  office  to 
which  I  am  competent,  and  I  should,  myself,  conceive  it  not 
difficult  to  execute.  Its  emoluments,  I  find,  are  not  very 
tempting,  yet,  with  economy,  may  support  my  family. 

'•  In  all  events  the  office  would  now  be  desirable.  For  my 
appointments  in  Luzerne  County  are  of  inconsiderable  value, 
and  my  present  situation  there  is  in  all  respects  precarious. 
If  the  people  of  this  State  should  elect  for  their  Governor  a 
man  who  would  do  real  honor  to  that  important  station,  I 
should  entertain  no  doubt  of  a  reappointment.     But,  at  pres- 


LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  453 

ent,  there  appears  too  much  ground  to  fear  they  will  make 
a  very  different  choice.  But,  besides  that,  my  offices  are  of 
much  less  value  than  I  was  led  to  believe,  and  may  be  of 
short  duration. 

"  The  tenure  of  .my  lands  there  is  now  rendered  uncertain. 
The  General  Assembly,  at  their  sessions  last  spring,  with  that 
mischievous  instability  which  characterizes  a  single  legislat- 
ure, repealed  the  law,  passed  three  years  before,  for  confirm- 
ing the  titles  of  the  Connecticut  settlers  at  Wyoming.  That 
confirming  law  was  the  foundation  of  peace,  and  the  sole 
ground  of  my  removal  to  that  country.  The  repeal  has  again 
set  the  titles  afloat ;  and,  in  consequence,  the  Pennsyl- 
vania claimants  are  now  about  bringing  numerous  actions  of 
ejectment  against  us.  Should  the  decisions  of  the  Courts  be 
in  their  favor,  I  shall  of  course  lose  my  lands,  on  which  I  very 
much  depended  for  the  maintenance  of  my  family.  These 
evils,  which  are  likely  to  continue  for  years,  are  attended  with 
another,  which  affects  me  very  sensibly.  They  prevent  the 
establishment  of  a  school,  where  my  sons  (I  have  seven)  may 
be  tolerably  educated ;  and  I  have  not  the  means  of  sending 
them  from  home. 

''  These  considerations,  I  hope,  Sir,  will  sufficiently  apolo- 
gize to  you  ^or  the  trouble  of  this  application. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  respect.  Sir,  your  most 

obedient  servant, 

'  Tlmothy  Pickering. 

"  To  George  Washington,  President  of  the  United  States." 

The  Convention  for  framing  a  new  Constitution  for 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania  finished  its  business  on 
Thursday,  September  2d,  1790,  and  adjourned,  with  an 
understanding  that  the  members  would  come  together, 
as  a  body,  the  next  day  to  meet  President  Washington. 
The  above  letter  was  written  on  the  morning  of  Friday, 
but  not  sent  until  a  few  days  afterwards,  mth  this  post- 
script :  '*  Sir,  —  The  enclosed  letter  was  written  last 
Friday,  before  you  spoke  to  me  on  the  Indian  business. 
The  proofs  of  your  confidence  in  me  since,  more  than 


454  I'lTE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

once  expressed,  furnish  an  additional  motive  for  pre- 
senting it." 

A  letter  to  Mrs.  Pickering,  dated  September  6tli,  gives 
the  following  particulars  :  — 

"  It  seems  that  I  am  never  to  return  to  you  in  the  time  I 
projDOse  when  I  leave  home.  It  did  not  appear  expedient  to 
quit  the  Convention  until  the  business  was  completed,  which 
was  not  t?ll  last  Thursday.  My  stay  I  consider  as  very  fortu- 
nate ;  for  the  next  day  General  Washington  (who  d"ned  with 
the  Convention)  requested  me  to  go  on  a  mission  to  the 
Indians,  to  appease  their  resentment  for  the  murder  of  two 
of  their  tribe,  on  the  west  branch  of  the  Susquehanna.  I 
readily  undertook  the  business,  and  have  written  yesterday, 
by  an  express,  to  the  Indian  chiefs,  that  I  will  meet  them  at 
Tioga  on  the  25th  of  next  month.  The  allowance  for  my 
service  in  this  matter  will  be  liberal.  The  General  expressed 
himself  in  the  most  friendly  and  confidential  manner  to  me  ; 
and  I  was  thence  the  more  encouraged  to  present  a  letter  to 
him,  requesting  an  appointment  to  a  certain  permanent  office, 
when  it  becomes  vacant,  which  it  will  be  in  about  three 
months.  I  had  written  the  letter  the  very  morning  of  the 
day  on  which  he  spoke  to  me  about  the  Indian  business,  but 
I  did  not  send  it  to  him  until  last  evening.  It  is  a  subject 
for  his  consideration  only,  and  I  do  not  expect  an  answer  at 
this  time. 

"  P.  S.  I  have  bought  books,  penknives,  and  fish-hooks 
for  the  boys.     I  hope  they  will  deserve  them. — T.  P." 

The  following  letters  were  written  the  day  after  the 
Indian  mission  was  proposed  and  accepted :  — 

"  Colonel  Ti3iothy  Pickering, 
"  You  are  hereby  authorized  and  required  forthwith  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  Painted  Post, or  to  such  other  place  or  places 

as  may  seem  proper,  there  to  meet,  in  behalf  of  the  United 
States,  the  sachems,  chiefs,  and  warriors  of  the  Seneca  Nation 
of  Indians,  or  any  person  or  persons  deputed  by  them  :  to 
assure  them  that  the  murders  committed  at  Pine  Creek  on 
some  of  their  tribe  are  causes  of  great  displeasure  to  the 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  455 

United  States ;  to  explain  to  them  what  measures  have  been 
taken,  and  are  still  proposed  to  be  taken,  to  apprehend  and 
bring  the  offenders  to  justice ;  to  communicate  to  them  in  a 
plain  and  fair  manner  the  late  act  of  Congress  respecting  the 
trade  and  intercourse  with  the  Indian  tribes ;  to  declare  to 
them  the  friendly  disposition  of  the  Federal  government 
towards  them,  and  its  readiness  to  extend  protection  and 
support  to  them  on  all  needful  occasions ;  and  in  general  to 
do  such  matters  and  things  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  more 
complete  execution  of  the  foregoing  powers. 

'*  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal,  this  4th  day  of  Septem- 
ber, 1T90. 

"  G.  Washington." 

"  Philadelphia,  September  4th,  1790. 
"  SlE, 

"  In  the  public  letter  which  accompanies  this,  you  will 
receive  such  instructions  for  your  conduct  in  your  mission  to 
the  Seneca  tribe  of  Indians  as  may,  without  impropriety,  be 
communicated  to  them.  Some  others  shall  here  be  added, 
more  peculiarly  proper  for  your  own  ear.  It  is  particularly 
desirable  that  they  be  made  to  understand  that  all  business 
between  them  and  any  part  of  the  United  States  is  hereafter 
to  be  transacted  by  the  general  government,  and  that  the 
person  who  will  attend  you  on  the  part  of  the  executive  of 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania  be  induced  to  corroborate  this 
explicitly,  by  his  declarations  to  them. 

"  The  Indians  have  demanded  that  the  property  of  the 
deceased  Indians,  taken  by  the  murderers,  be  restored.  I  am 
informed  that  this  has  been  secured  by  the  executive  of 
Pennsylvania,  to  whom,  therefore,  you  will  apply  for  the 
same,  and  take  proper  measures  for  restoring  it.  They  have 
further  demanded  that  the  property  of  the  murderers  be  given 
up  to  them.  I  am  informed  that  they  had  no  property  but 
lands.  You  will  explain  this  to  them,  and,  of  course,  that 
there  is  nothing  to  render  under  this  demand.  The  Executive 
of  Pennsylvania  had  proposed  to  purchase  goods  suitable  to 
the  Indians,  to  the  amount  of  26G|  dollars,  to  be  given  to  the 
friends  of  the  deceased,  as  a  satisfaction  for  the  wrong  done 
them.     You  will  take,  on  behalf  of  the  United  States,  so 


456  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

much  of  this  purchase  as  has  been  made,  for  which  they  shall 
be  repaid,  and  you  will  complete  the  same  to  the  amount 
before  mentioned,  if  it  be  not  completed ;  and  you  will  take 
measures  for  having  the  goods  conveyed  to  the  place  of  meet- 
ing, where  you  will  cause  them  to  be  so  distributed  among 
the  friends  of  the  deceased  as  shall  be  most  likely  to  give 
complete  satisfaction.  It  is  desirable  that  they  be  induced  to 
content  themselves  with  this  peace-offering  ;  but  should  they 
consider  it  as  absolutely  inadequate,  you  will,  in  your  discre- 
tion, give  them  such  assurances  of  further  gifts  as  the  neces- 
sity of  the  case  shall  require.  So,  also,  should  any  presents 
to  the  chiefs  of^the  nation  appear  to  you  necessary,  you  will 
do  therein  what,  in  your  discretion,  you  shall  perceive  to  be 
indispensable.  You  are  to  receive  for  your  time  and  trouble 
eight  dollars  a  day,  from  the  date  hereof  until  your  return, 
in  addition  to  your  reasonable  expenses,  as  well  personal  as 
for  the  general  objects  of  your  mission.     It  is  expected  that 

you  will  be  at  the  place  of  meeting  by  the instant,  and 

have  there  at  the  same  time,  if  possible,  the  presents  provided; 
or  otherwise,  that  you  take  measures  for  their  being  conveyed 
thither  by  as  early  a  day  as  possible. 

''  In  all  your  proceedings  you  are  desired  to  adhere  to  as 
strict  economy  as  the  objects  of  your  mission  will  reasonably 
admit. 

"  I  am.  Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

"  G.  Washington. 

"  Colonel  Timothy  Pickering." 

On  receiving  these  communications,  Colonel  Picker- 
ing the  same  day  despatched  the  following  by  a  trusty 
messenger :  — 

"  Brothers,  Sachems,  Chiefs,  and  Warriors  of  the  Seneca 
Nation. 

"  I  address  you  in  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  in  pursuance  of  the  orders  of  their 
President  and  Great  Chief  General  Washington. 

"  Brothers,  the  killing  of  two  of  your  nation  at  Pine  Creek 
has  kindled  the  resentment  not  only  of  Pennsylvania  but  of 
the  United  States  ;  and  diligent  endeavors  are  used  for  taking 


LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  457 

the  murderers,  that  they  may  suffer  the  punishment  clue  for 
their  crime.  Our  Great  Chief  abhors  such  wicked  men ;  and 
is  determined  that  no  injury  done  to  our  brothers  of  the 
Indian  nations  at  peace  with  the  United  States,  shall  go  un- 
punished, if  the  offenders  can  be  found.  Brothers,  our  Great 
Chief,  General  Washington,  is  renowned  through  the  world 
for  his  justice  and  goodness ;  and  you  and  all  the  Indian 
nations  may  perfectly  rely  upon  his  virtues.  But  though  his 
arm  is  strong  and  extends  over  all  the  thirteen  States,  yet 
wicked  men  may  sometimes  escape.  For  we  are  a  great  peo- 
ple numerous  as  the  stars  which  in  a  clear  night  brighten  the 
heavens.  Among  such  multitudes  a  few  bad  men  may  pass 
unknown ;  or  they  may  hide  themselves  in  the  forests,  or 
going  to  the  sea-coast,  get  into  the  big  vessels,  and  sail  over 
the  great  water  to  other  countries.  If,  therefore,  for  any 
injuries  done  to  you,  brothers,  or  to  any  others  of  the  Indian 
nations,  the  bad  men  who  commit  them  should  not  be  brought 
to  punishment,  rest  assured  it  will  be  because  they  hide  them- 
selves where  they  cannot  be  found,  or  flee  from  their  country. 

"  Brothers,  as  all  business  between  you  and  the  citizens  of 
these  States  is  in  future  to  be  conducted  by  the  authority  of 
the  United  States,  through  their  President,  I  now  inform  you 
that  I  am  appointed  by  him  to  wash  off  the  blood  of  our  mur- 
dered brothers,  and  wipe  away  the  tears  from  the  eyes  of 
their  friends.  For  these  purposes  I  will  meet  the  relations  of 
the  deceased  at  Tioga  on  Monday  the  25th  day  of  October 
next.  And,  brothers,  the  President,  our  Great  Chief,  desires 
that  the  chiefs  of  the  Turtle  tribe  and  other  great  men  of 
your  nation  will  on  that  day  come  to  Tioga  with  the  relations 
of  the  deceased,  to  be  witnesses  to  the  above  transaction,  to 
receive  the  assurances  of  his  good-will  towards  you  and  of  the 
friendship  of  the  United  States.  Then  too  the  chain  of  friend- 
ship between  us  shall  be  brightened ;  and  may  the  Great  Spirit 
lead  your  nation  and  the  United  States  to  keep  it  always 
bright  while  the  sun  shines. 

"Dated  at  Philadelphia  the  4th  day  of  September,  1790. 

"Timothy  Pickerikg.'* 

Colonel  Pickering  started  on  his  mission,  accompanied 

by  his  friend,  Mr.  Bowman,  and   carrying   with  them 


458  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

such  articles  as  were  necessary  for  distribution  in  a  treaty 
with  Indians,  on  the  17th  of  October,  1790.  Writing  co 
his  wife  from  Tioga,  October  28th,  he  says,  "  I  suspect 
I  shall  be  detained  here  much  longer  than  I  expected 
when  I  left  home.  Not  an  Indian  has  yet  appeared." 
Again,  from  Tioga  Point,  November  2d,  "  I  am  just  in- 
formed of  some  gentlemen  going  down  the  river.  I 
seize  the  occasion  to  tell  vou  that  live  runners  arrived 
last  Friday  evening,  and  the  next  morning  delivered  a 
speech,  informing  me  that  the  Seneca  Indians  from 
Buffalo  Creek  would  be  here  by  about  next  Saturday,  the 
6th  instant,  to  the  number  of  live  hundred,  and  two  or  three 
hundred  more  from  Genessee.  In  all  probability,  they 
may  stay  a  week."  ■  Again,  from  the  same  place,  Novem- 
ber 9th,  "  This  morning  Mr.  Ellicott  has  arrived,  and 
intends  to  proceed  immediately  after  breakfast.  I  take 
my  pen  just  to  inform  you  that  my  back  is  nearly  re- 
covered from  the  injury  received  in  lifting  a  canoe.  Mr. 
Ellicott  will  tell  you  all  the  news  respecting  the  Indians. 
I  expect  them  here  next  Thursday,  which  will  be  the 
11th."  Writing  to  Mr.  Hodgdon  on  the  11th,  he 
savs  :  — 

"  I  have  been  waiting  here  about  a  fortnight  for  the  coming 
of  the  Indians ;  but  they  are  not  yet,  arrived,  though  they 
undoubtedly  will  be  here  next  Saturday.  Some  white  villains 
among  them,  who  wish  to  make  themselves  important  and 
necessary  on  all  such  occasions,  have  greatly  contributed  to 
this  delay.  Though,  as  soon  as  I  arrived  here,  Colonel  Spauld- 
ing  (who  is  well  acquainted  with  the  Indians)  told  me  I  must 
not  look  for  them  in  less  than  a  fortnight ;  'tis  their  usual 
practice  to  be  extremely  dilatory.  Mr.  Ellicott  arrived  here 
last  Tuesday.  The  Indians,  he  says,  retarded  his  business  ; 
and  the  British,  from  Niagara,  endeavored  to  prevent  their 
attending  this  treaty.  I  have  certain  information  of  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-four  advancing,  and  stragglers  may  make  up 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  459 

three  hundred.  It  is  probable,  from  their  deliberate  manner 
of  doing  business,  that  I  shall  not  get  clear  of  them  till  the 
last  of  next  week.  I  shall  stay  at  Wyoming  till  our  County 
Court  is  over,  the  first  week  in  December,  and,  in  a  few  days 
after,  proceed  to  Philadelphia." 

He  ^yrote  to  his  wife  from  Tioga  Point,  Monday,  No- 
vember loth:  — 

"  The  Seneca  Indians  arrived  yesterday  afternoon.  The 
chiefs  say  they  expect  some  chiefs  of  the  other  nations,  par- 
ticularly the  Cayugas,  and  desire  to  wait  two  days  for  their 
arrival.  If  they  do  not  come  by  that  time,  they  say  they  will 
begin  business  without  them.  On  Wednesday,  therefore,  I 
expect  a  speech  from  them  in  council ;  and,  if  we  finish  by 
Saturday  night,  they  will  make  more  despatch  than  usual.  In 
short,  if  I  get  home  by  the  close  of  next  week,  it  will  be  as 
much  as  I  expect,  though  I  shall  hurry  them  as  much  as  pos- 
sible. They  are  of  all  ages,  —  some  very  old,  and  some  infants 
at  the  breast.  This  is  their  usual  manner  of  attending  treaties, 
and  is  one  cause  of  their  tedious  delays.  I  find  a  person  to 
know  how  to  manage  them  must  serve  at  least  a  short  ap- 
prenticeship in  learning  their  manners  and  customs.  Were  I 
to  conduct  another  treaty,  I  should  prepare  for  it,  better  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  Indians,  and  much  more  to  my  own.  But  I 
shall  give  them  a  plain  hint  that  it  will  be  expedient  for  them, 
in  time  to  come,  to  treat  by  a  deputation  of  their  chiefs,  and 
not  by  assembling  their  whole  nation. 

"  Last  evening,  agreeably  to  my  invitation,  the  chiefs  came 
to  smoke  a  pipe  with  me,  drink  grog,  and  eat  our  bread  and 
butter  and  cheese.  This  morning,  they  have  sent  a  message  to 
inform  me  that  their  ladies  will  make  me  a  visit.  I  did  not  in- 
vite them,  but  I  must  receive  them  in  the  same  manner  I  did  the 
chiefs.  They  have  among  them  some  very  pretty  boys.  Fortu- 
nately, the  young  people  generally  stayed  at  home,  it  being  the 
season  for  hunting.  The  chiefs  made  apologies  that  so  few 
attended  the  treaty,  and  said  the  warriors  generally  declined 
coming,  because,  if  they  came,  they  should  lose  the  best  sea- 
son for  hunting.  I  told  them  no  apology  was  necessary,  and 
that  I  thought  they  judged  very  prudently  in  determining  to 


460  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

pursue  their  hunting,  which  was  so  important  to  them  for 
getting  provisions  and  skins.  But  for  this  circumstance,  I 
should  probably  have  been  troubled  with  six  or  seven  hundred. 
I  shall  have  many  curious  facts  to  relate,  but  must  reserve 
them  till  my  return." 

Many  interesting  documents  connected  with  this  treaty 
are  preserved,  from  which  the  following  account  may 
be  drawn,  illustrating  the  usages  on  such  occasions. 
Colonel  Pickering  states  that  the  Conference  was  de- 
signed to  be  with  the  Indians  of  the  Seneca  Nation 
''  relative  to  the  murder  of  their  brothers  at  Pine  Creek, 
in  Pennsylvania,  the  circumstances  of  which  he  describes 
as  having  been  "  barbarous  ;"  but  Indians  of  the  other 
nations  came  with  the  Senecas,  considering  the  injury 
as  done  to  them  all.  Runners  had  been  sent  by  some 
leading  sachems  through  the  Six  Nations,  urging  them  to 
attend  the  conference  ;  the  message  concluding  in  these 
words :  "  This  is  from  your  brothers,  sachems,  chiefs, 
and  warriors,  walking  to  the  Big  Fire  at  Tioga  Point." 

On  the  afternoon  of  November  14th,  some  twenty  or 
thirty  chiefs,  on  his  invitation,  but  in  an  informal  meet- 
ing, had  smoked  a  pipe  with  Colonel  Pickering  at  his 
quarters.  The  first  regular  conference  took  place  the 
next  day,  of  which  the  following  minutes  are  in  his 
handwriting :  — 

" '  Brothers,  Sachems,  Chiefs,  and  Warriors  of  the  Six 
Nations, 

"  '  I  bid  you  a  hearty  welcome  to  this  council  fire,  and  thank 
the  Great  Spirit  who  has  brought  us  together  in  safety, 
though  I  sincerely  lament  the  cause  of  our  meeting, — I 
mean  the  murder  of  our  two  brothers  of  your  nation  at  Pine 
Creek. 

"  '  Brothers  :  I  have  already  informed  you  by  letter  that  I 
was  appointed  by  our  Great  Chief,  General  Washington,  to 


LIFE  OF   TDIOTHY  PICKERING.  461 

meet  you  on  this  occasion.  You  must  well  know  that  he  is 
the  President  or  Great  Chief  of  the  United  States.  What  I 
shall  say  to  you  will  be  in  his  name,  by  the  authority  of  the 
United  States,  pursuant  to  the  powers  vested  in  me  by  this 
Commission  under  his  hand  and  seal.' 

"  The  President's  commission  to  me  was  then  read  and  in- 
terpreted. 

"  *  Brothers :  I  desire  you  to  look  on  my  commission,  and 
observe  the  seal  of  our  Great  Chief,  and  his  name,  written 
with  his  own  hand.' 

"  My  commission  was  then  handed  round  among  the 
chiefs. 

*' '  Brothers  :  As  this  is  the  first  time  that  I  have  held  a 
treaty  with  you,  it  cannot  be  expected  that  I  am  well  ac- 
quainted with  your  customs.  I  therefore  desire  you  to  ex- 
cuse any  defect  in  point  of  form.  But  what  I  speak  to  you 
shall  be  the  truth ;  which  I  am  sure  you  will  think  more  im- 
portant than  a  strict  observance  of  ceremonious  forms. 

"  '  Brothers  :  You  now  see  my  commission,  which  has  been 
read  and  interpreted,  that,  according  to  my  letter  to  you,  I 
was  appointed  to  wash  off  the  blood  of  our  murdered 
brothers, '  and  wipe  away  the  tears  from  the  eyes  of  their 
friends ;  and  that  this  occasion  was  to  be  improved  to 
brighten  the  chain  of  friendship  between  you  and  the  United 
States. 

*'  '  Brothers  :  You  said  the  hatchet  was  yet  sticking  in  your 
head.  I  now  pull  it  out.  I  have  now  met  you  to  wash  off 
the  blood  of  the  slain,  and  wipe  away  the  tears  from  the  eyes 
of  their  friends.  And,  as  a  token  of  friendship  and  peace, 
and  of  the  perfect  security  with  which  we  may  confer  to- 
gether, I  now  present  to  you  these  strings.' 

"  I  then  delivered  to  the  principal  chief,  usually  called 
'  The  Farmer's  Brother,'  strings  of  wampum.  After  some 
consultation  with  the  chiefs  near  him,  he  rose  and  addi'essed 
me  to  the  following  effect :  — 

"  '  Brother :  We  thank  the  Great  Spirit  who  has  appointed 
this  day,  in  which  we  sit  side  by  side,  and  look  with  earnest- 
ness on  each  other.  We  know  you  have  been  long  waiting 
for  us,  and  suppose  you  have  often  stretched  up  your  neck, 


462  LIFE   OF  TDIOTHY  PICKERING. 

to  see  if  we  were  coming.  Brother :  "We  sent  yonr  letter  to  the 
Grand  River  by  the  Fish  Carrier,  and  we  have  been  waiting  for 
its  return  ;  but  it  has  not  yet  come  to  hand  ;  and  therefore  we 
cannot  yet  properly  enter  upon  business.  We  must  wait  two 
days  for  the  arrival  of  the  Fish  Carrier,  or  to  hear  from  him. 
But,  in  the  mean  time,  as  the  letter  is  not  come  back,  we 
desire  you  to  accept  this  belt  as  a  pledge.' 

"  He  then  delivered  the  belt. 

"  After  a  pause,  the  chief,  called  Red  Jacket,  rose,  and  spoke 
to  this  effect :  — 

*' '  Brother:  We  are  happy  to  see  you  here,  for  which  we 
thank  the  Great  Spirit. 

"  '  Brother :  You  say  you  are  not  acquainted  with  our  cus- 
toms. Brother :  we  are  young,  but  Ave  will  describe  the  an- 
cient practices  of  our  fathers.  The  roads  we  now  travel  were 
cleared  by  them.  When  they  used  to  meet  our  brothers  of 
Pennsylvania,  at  Philg^delphia,  our  brothers  not  only  pulled 
the  hatchet  out  of  their  heads,  but  buried  it.  You  say  you 
have  now  pulled  the  hatchet  out  of  our  heads ;  but  you  have 
only  cast  it  behind  you ;  and  you  may  take  it  up  again. 
Brother :  While  the  hatchet  lies  unburied,  we  cannot  sit  easy 
on  our  seats. 

"  '  Brother  :  From  the  time  we  made  peace  with  the  United 
States,  we  have  experienced  troubles,  even  more  than  before. 
The  United  States  have  also  had  their  troubles.  Brother: 
we  now  hear  General  Washington,  the  Great  Chief  of  the 
United  Slates,  speaking  to  us  by  you  ;  and  hope  our  troubles 
will  now  have  an  end.  But  our  ej^es  are  not  yet  washed, 
that  we  may  see,  nor  our  throats  cleared,  that  we  may  speak.' 

"  As  soon  as  Red  Jacket  sat  down,  I  rose,  and  spoke  to  the 
following  effect :  — 

"  '  Brothers  :  You  say  that  I  have  only  pulled  the  hatchet 
out  of  your  heads,  and  have  not  buried  it ;  and  that,  while  it 
remains  unburied,  you  cannot  sit  easy  on  your  seats. 

"  '  Brothers :  In  declaring  that  I  pulled  the  hatchet  out  of 
your  heads,  I  meant  to  comply  with  your  own  demand,  in 
your  letter  to  the  President  and  Council  of  Penns3dvania ; 
which  was,  that  he  should  come  and  pull  the  hatchet  out  of 
your  heads.     However,  to  give  you  entire  satisfaction  in  this 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  463 

point,  as  the  hatchet  is  already  pulled  out  of  your  heads,  I 
now  bury  it,  and  pray  God  that  it  may  remain  buried  ;  that 
its  edge  may  never  more  be  seen.  Brothers :  The  United 
States  have  no  wish  but  to  live  with  you  as  brothers  in  per- 
petual peace. 

"  '  I  now  wash  off  the  blood  of  your  murdered  brothers,  and 
the  tears  from  the  eyes  of  their  friends.' 

"  I  then  drank  to  their  healths. 

*'  After  they  had  been  served  round  with  a  glass  of  rum,  the 
Farmer's  Brother  rose,  and  spoke  to  this  effect :  — 

"'Brother:  You  have  now  taken  us  by  the  hand,  and 
washed  our  eyes.  Our  women  expect  you  will  show  them 
equal  attention.  They  are  here  waiting  your  invitation,  to 
receive  the  same  tokens  of  your  friendship,  which,  the  last 
evening,  you  gave  to  us.  Perhaps,  in  taking  them  by  the 
hand,  you  may  see  one  who  may  please  you.'  (A  general 
laugh  at  the  speaker's  humor.) 

"  I  rose,  and  addressed  the  women  :  — 

"  '  Sisters  :  I  am  very  glad  to  meet  you  here.  I  have  seen 
agreeable  women  of  various  complexions,  and  doubt  not  such 
are  to  be  found  among  you.  I  invite  you  to  my  quarters, 
where  we  may  eat  and  drink  together  in  friendship.  I  now 
take  you  by  the  hand  as  my  sisters.' 

"  I  then  went  round  and  shook  hands  with  every  woman 
present." 

While  the  specific  object  of  Colonel  Pickering's  mis- 
sion was  to  assuage  the  resentment  to  which  the  Six 
Nations  had  been  wrought  by  the  murder  of  two  of  the 
Seneca  Tribe  by  white  men,  it  was  a  matter  of  the 
highest,  perhaps  vital,  importance  to  prevent  their  join- 
ing, from  that  or  any  other  cause,  the  Western  Indians, 
then  at  war  with  the  United  States.  Colonel  John  But- 
ler, the  Commandant  at  Fort  Niagara,  and  other  British 
officials  on  the  Canadian  frontier,  were  using  all  possible 
means  to  instigate  the  Six  Nations  to  hostility.  Joseph 
Brant  was  giving  his  great  influence  in  the  same  di- 


464  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

rection.  There  was  reason  to  believe  that  Cornplanter, 
the  most  prominent  Seneca  chief,  had  received  impres- 
sions to  the  like  effect.  Red  Jacket,  who  was  the  prin- 
cipal speaker  in  the  conferences  at  Tioga  Point,  had 
strong  prejudices  against  the  United  States,  which  were 
manifested  in  his  speech  on  the  first  day.  The  difficul- 
ties encountered  by  Colonel  Pickering  in  bringing  the 
Indians  to  a  friendly  feeling,  were,  from  these  causes, 
very  great.  Red  Jacket  was  the  great  aboriginal  orator. 
His  particular  title  among  the  tribes, ''  Soc,  que,  ya,  waun, 
tau,"  "  Sleeper,  wake  up,"  was  probably  given  as  expres- 
sive of  his  rousing  and  magnetizing  eloquence.  His 
feelings,  however,  seem  to  have  become  mollified  early 
in  the  course  of  the  conferences.  Colonel  Pickering 
bears  this  testimony  as  to  his  character  and  deportment 
on  the  occasion  :  "  He  acted  a  conspicuous  part  at  the 
conference,  displaying  a  good  understanding,  a  ready 
apprehension,-  and  great  strength  of  memory.  He  was 
attentive  to  business  at  the  council  fire,  and  when  con- 
sulted in  private  on  matters  relating  to  their  peculiar 
customs,  he  appeared  to  be  well  acquainted  with  them, 
and  always  gave  me  the  necessary  information  very  in- 
telligently, with  perfect  candor,  and  in  a  most  obliging 
manner." 

Many  of  the  chiefs  of  the  Seneca  and  other  nations 
showed  a  good  disposition  throughout,  particularly  Far- 
mer's Brother,  Good  Peter,  Captain  Hendrick  Aupau- 
mut.  Fish  Carrier,  and  Big  Tree.  All  that  was  said  was 
in  the  proper  language  of  the  respective  speakers,  and 
was  passed  from  one  side  to  the  other  by  "  Ear,"  the 
name  always  given  to  the  interpreter. 

The  final  scenes  of  the  negotiation  are  thus  described 
by  Colonel  Pickering : — 


LITE   OF    TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  465 

"  Upon  conversing  with  some  of  the  principal  chiefs,  I  found 
that  the  delivery  of  a  mourning  belt  to  the  head  of  each 
family  to  which  the  two  murdered  Indians  belonged  was  an 
indispensable  requisite  to  appease  their  minds ;  that  this  was 
an  invariable  custom  among  themselves  ;  and  that,  without  a 
compliance  with  it,  the  injuries  could  not  be  forgiven.  As  I 
had  none,  the  chiefs  undertook  to  inquire  among  their  people 
for  suitable  belts,  and,  if  obtained,  I  engaged  to  purchase 
them.  I  also  found  that,  when  I  should  deliver  the  belts, 
they  expected  me  to  make  a  particular  address  to  the  relations 
of  the  deceased.  The  belts  were  procured  ;  and,  on  the  22d 
of  November,  before  the  council  fire  was  covered,  I  addressed 
the  whole  body  of  Indians,  and  the  relations  of  the  deceased 
in  particular,  in  the  following  speech  : — 

"  *  Brothers :  The  business  for  Avhich  this  council  fire  was 
kindled  is  now  finished.  The  hatchet  has  been  buried,  and 
the  chain  of  friendship  is  made  bright.  But,  before  the  fire 
is  put  out,  I  must  address  a  few  words  to  the  relations  of  our 
two  deceased  brothers. 

"  '  My  friends  :  You  are  now  assembled  to  jeceive  the  last 
public  testimony  of  respect  to  the  memories  of  our  two  broth- 
ers, whose  untimely  deaths  we  have  once  already  joined  in 
lamenting. 

"  '  Mothers :  You  have  lost  two  worthy  sons,  from  whom 
you  expected  support  and  comfort  in  your  old  age.  You  ap- 
pear bowed  down  with  sorrow,  as  with  years.  Your  affliction 
must  be  very  great.  I  also  am  a  parent,  —  the  parent  of  many 
sons,  the  loss  of  any  one  of  whom  would  fill  me  with  distress  ; 
I  therefore  can  feel  for  vours. 

"  '  Brothers  and  sisters  :  You  have  lost  two  valuable  rela- 
tions, whose  assistance  was  useful,  and  whose  company  was 
pleasing  to  you,  and  with  whom  you  expected  to  pass  yet 
many  happy  years.  With  you,  also,  I  can  join  in  mourning 
your  misfortune. 

"  '  Mothers,  Brothers,  and  Sisters :    Let  me  endeavor   to 

assuage  j'our  grief.    You  enjoy  the  satisfaction  of  remembering 

the  good  qualities  of  your  deceased  sons  and  brothers,   of 

reflecting  that  they  were  worthy  men ;  and  of  hearing  their 
Vol.  II.  80 


466  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

names  mentioned  witli  honor.  Let  these  considerations  afford 
YOU  some  comfort.  Death,  you  know,  is  the  common  lot  of 
all  mankind ;  and  none  can  escape  its  stroke.  Some,  indeed, 
live  many  years  ;  till,  like  well-ripened  corn,  they  wither  and 
bend  down  their  heads.  But  multitudes  fall  in  infancy  and 
childhood,  like  the  tender  shooting  corn,  nipped  by  untimely 
frosts.  Others,  again,  grown  up  to  manhood,  are  then  cut  off, 
wliile  full  of  sap  and  flourishing  in  all  the  vigor  of  life. 
The  latter,  it  seems,  was  the  state  of  our  two  deceased  broth- 
ers. But,  my  friends,  they  are  gone,  and  we  cannot  bring 
them  back.  When  the  Great  Spirit  shall  so  order  it,  we  must 
follow  them  ;  but  they  cannot  return  to  us.  This  is  the  un- 
alterable course  of  things,  and  it  is  our  duty  patiently  to  bear 
our  misfortunes. 

" '  Mothers :  To  manifest  the  sorrow  of  the  United  States 
for  the  loss  of  your  sons,  and  that  you  and  your  families 
may  always  have  with  you  the  usual  tokens  of  remembrance, 
I  now  present  to  you  these  belts. 

"  Brothers :  The  stake  has  been  stuck  into  the  ground,  and 
it  has  been  pulled  out  in  presence  of  you  all.  We  have  put 
into  the  hole  all  our  troubles,  and  again  stuck  in  the  stake, 
that  they  may  never  rise  again.' 


?    55 


At  the  request  of  the  Indians,  a  certified  copy  of  this 
speech,  in  his  own  handwriting,  was  left  Avith  them  by 
Colonel  Pickering. 

On  the  following  day,  November  23d,  he  delivered  to 
the  Indians  the  present  of  goods  from  the  government 
of  the  United  States,  prefacing  the  act  with  the  following 
speech :  — 

*' '  Brothers  :  I  have  told  you  that  I  was  directed  by  our 
Great  Chief,  the  President  of  the  United  States,  to  present  to 
you  a  quantity  of  goods,  as  an  atonement  for  the  blood  of 
your  brothers,  that  was  spilt  at  Pine  Creek. 

"  '  Brothers :  I  now  offer  you  those  goods  in  the  name  of 
our  Great  Chief,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  United  States. 
Accept  of  them,  brothers,  as  a  further  proof  of  the  friendly 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  467 

disposition  of  the  United  States  towards  you,  and  of  their 
readiness  to  make  you  reasonable  satisfaction  for  every  injury 
done  to  you  by  any  of  their  citizens. 

"  '  Brothers :  I  shall  now  deliver  a  few  presents  to  the 
nearest  friends  of  the  deceased.  The  residue  of  the  goods 
you  will  distribute  in  such  a  manner  as  you  know  will  be  most 
agreeable  to  the  relations,  and  most  satisfactory  to  your 
nation.'  " 

When  these  ceremonies  had  been  terminated,  renewals 
of  friendship  secured,  a  treaty  concluded,  and  satisfac- 
tion given  and  taken  on  both  sides,  the  council  fires  were 
covered  up.  The  Indians  returned  to  their  homes,  and 
Colonel  Pickering  repaired  to  Philadelphia,  and  made 
report  of  his  doings. 

"  The  Secretary  of  War,  to  whom  the  President  of  the 
United  States  was  pleased  to  refer  the  papers  containing  the 
proceedings  of  Colonel  Timothy  Pickering  with  the  Seneca 
Indians  at  Tioga  Point  in  November,  1790. 

''  Respectfully  reports, 

"  That  he  has  attentively  examined  the  said  papers,  trans- 
mitted by  Colonel  Pickering,  the  fourth  and  twenty-third  of 
the  present  month  of  December,  and  containing  an  account 
of  his  proceedings  with  the  Seneca  Indians,  pursuant  to  his 
instructions  and  commission  from  the  President  of  the  United 
States. 

"  That  he  is  of  opinion  that  the  said  proceedings  of  Colonel 
Timothy  Pickering  were  conducted  with  abilities  and  judg- 
ment, and  consistentlv  with  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the 
United  States  ;  and  also  with  the  candor  and  humanity  which 
ought  to  characterize  all  the  treaties  of  the  general  govern- 
ment with  the  unenlightened  natives  of  the  country. 

"  All  which  is  humbly  submitted, 

''  H.  Knox,  Secretary  of  War. 

"  TVar  Department,  27th  December,  1790." 


468  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

"United  States,  December  31st,  1790. 


(( 


Sir, 

''  I  have  the  pleasure  to  enclose  for  you  the  report  of  the 
Secretary  of  War,  upon  the  papers  which  were  referred  to 
him.  relative  to  your  transactions  with  the  Seneca  Indians  in 
November  last. 

"  To  this  satisfactory  report  I  am  happy  to  add  my  entire 
approbation  of  your  conduct  in  this  business. 

"  And  am  with  very  great  esteem  and  regard.  Sir,  your 

most  obedient  servant, 

"  G.  Washington. 

"  Colonel  Timothy  Pickering." 

Colonel  Pickering  replied  as  follows  :  — 

"  Philadelphia,  December  31st,  1790,  evening. 

"  Sir, 

"  I  have  this  moment  received  and  read  your  very  oblig- 
ingJetter  of  this  date,  expressing  your  entire  approbation  of 
my  conduct  in  the  conference  which,  by  your  orders,  I  have 
lately  held  with  the  Seneca  Indians.  This  explicit  and  pointed 
approbation  of  my  proceedings  is  the  more  grateful,  because 
they  were  my  first  essay.  For,  till  then,  I  was  an  utter 
*  stranger  to  the  manners  of  Indians,  and  to  the  proper  mode 
of  treating  with  them.  But,  Sir,  I  have  found  that  they  are 
not  difficult  to  please.  A  man  must  be  destitute  of  humanity, 
of  honesty,  or  of  common  sense,  who  should  send  them  away 
disgusted.  He  must  want  sensibility,  if  he  did  not  sympathize 
wdth  them,  on  their  recital  of  the  injuries  they  have  experi- 
enced from  white  men.  Impressed,  therefore,  with  such  sen- 
timents, the  honorable  manner  in  which  you  have  manifested 
your  approbation  of  my  conduct  in  this  business  is  more  than 
I  expected  ;  though,  next  to  the  approbation  of  my  own  mind, 
nothing  could  have  given  me  more  satisfaction. 

"  With  sincere  respect,  I  am,  Sir,  your  obliged  and  most 

obedient  servant, 

"  TmoTHY  Pickering. 

"  The  President  of  the  United  States." 

The  President,  in  the  letter  of  particular  instructions, 
presented  on  a  previous  page,  fixed  the  compensation  of 
Colonel  Pickering  for  this  service  at  "  eight  dollars  a 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  469 

day  "  from  September  -Ith  until  his  "  return,"  in  addition 
to  that  for  '*  reasonable  expenses,  as  well  personal  as 
for  the  general  objects  of"  the  '•  mission."  The  whole 
period  during  which  he  had  been  engaged,  if  not  in 
actual  labor,  in  his  thoughts  and  cares,  in  the  service,  to 
the  day  when  his  report  was  concluded  and  presented, 
on  the  24th  of  December,  embraced  one  hundred  and 
eleven  days.  At  eight  dollars  a  day,  his  compensation 
would  have  amounted,  for  the  per  diem  alone,  to  eight 
hundred  and  eighty-eight  dollars.  But  he  charged  only 
for  the  days  w4iich  had  been  w^holly  and  exclusively 
occupied  in  the  service,  as  appears  by  his  account,  as 
follow^s  :  — 

The  United  States.  To  Timothy  Pickeeixg,  Dr. 

For  my  time  and  trouble  in  Philadelphia  two  days,  in  various  matters 

preparatory  to  the  intended  conference,  at  eight  dollars  a  day    .     .  §16.00 

For  my  time  and  trouble  in  procuring  provisions  for  the  Indians,  and 
holding  a  conference  with  them  from  October  17th  (when  I  set  off 
from  my  house  in  Wilkesbarre  for  Tioga)  until  November  29th,  at 
night  (when  I  reached  home),  both  days  included,  at  eight  dollars 
a  day 352.00 

For  my  travelling  expenses  from  Wilkesbarre  to  Tioga  and  back      .     .      3.37 

For  my  time,  trouble,  and  expenses,  after  my  return,  in  transcribing 
the  rough  minutes  of  the  proceedings,  to  report  to  the  President ; 
in  making  a  journey  from  Wilkesbarre  to  Philadelphia  for  that 
purpose,  and  to  get  the  account  of  expenses  settled ;  and  in  complet- 
ing the  payments  yet  to  be  made  to  sundry  persons  in  Luzerne 
county  and  York  State,  equal  to  twelve  days,  at  eight  dollars     .     .     96.00 


u 


§467.37" 
"  Philadelphia,  January  8th,  1791. 

Sir, 

"  Having  been  accidentally  detained  here  longer  than  I 
expected,  and  a  little  leisure  now  presenting,  I  have  thought 
it  would  not  be  misapplied  in  suggesting  the  means  of  intro- 
ducing the  art  of  husbandry  and  civilization  among  our  Indian 
neighbors. 

"  In  the  treaty  with  the  Creek  Indians,  I  observe  provision 
is  made  for  furnishing  them  with  domestic  animals  and  in- 


470  Lli'E   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

struments  of  husbandry,  with  a  view  to  change  those  people 
from  hunters  to  husbandmen.  If  it  is  the  wish  of  the  United 
States  (and  the  clause  just  mentioned  in  the  treaty  with  the 
Creeks  warrants  the  supposition)  thus  to  instruct  the  Indians 
in  the  most  important  of  all  arts,  the  art  of  husbandry,  and 
to  reclaim  them  from  a  savage  to  a  civil  state,  I  am  disposed 
to  believe  that  the  wish  is  founded  on  practicable  ideas.  But 
no  means  hitherto  used  appear  to  me  to  have  been  properly 
calculated  to  produce  that  effect.  It  is  certain  they  have  not 
succeeded.  And  hence  many,  perhaps  most  people,  think  the 
idea  of  civilizing  the  Indians  jjerfectly  Utopian.  They  in- 
stance the  numerous  attempts  with  a  few  of  the  most  promis- 
ing Indian  youths,  who,  after  several  years'  instruction  at  our 
schools  and  colleges,  returning  to  their  own  country,  again 
become  mere  savages.  But  this  conclusion  is  not  fairly  drawn. 
We  take  a  few  young  Indians,  and  educate  them  in  the  style 
of  the  children  of  men  of  fortune.  We  spare  no  pains  or  ex- 
pense to  give  them  what  is  called  learning^  but  never  teach 
them  a  single  art  by  Avhich  they  may  get  a  subsistence;  When 
grown  up  to  manhood,  we  send  them  back  to  their  tribe. 
But  what  shall  they  do  ?  They  must  eat,  and  their  bodies 
must  be  covered.  How  shall  they  obtain  food  and  clothing  ? 
Their  parents  and  friends  have  scarcely  enough  to  supply 
their  own  necessities.  There  are  no  literary  professions 
among  them,  and  their  nation  has  no  lucrative  offices  to  be- 
stow. '  The  youths  must  then  provide  for  themselves.  How 
shall  they  do  it  ?  With  all  their  learning,  they  acquired  no 
mechanic  art ;  and  though  surrounded  by  farmers,  they  were 
not  taught  the  art  of  husbandry.  What,  then,  is  their  resource  ? 
From  absolute  necessity,  they  become  hunters  ;  for  hunting 
furnishes  both  food  and  clothing.  But,  being  hunters,they  soon 
become  savages  ;  and  all  their  civil  learning  is  lost  upon  them. 
This,  I  knew,  was  the  general  result  of  educating  Indians  ; 
but  a  remedy  did  not  occur  till  I  became  personally  acquainted 
with  them  in  the  late  conference  at  Tioga.  Indeed,  till  then, 
I  had  never  had  the  subject  in  contemplation.  The  remedy 
seemed  obvious.  Prevent  the  necessity  of  their  becoming 
hunters,  and  they  may  be  gradually  civilized.     Instead  of 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  4^] 

educating  them  like  the  sons  of  men  of  independent  fortunes, 
teach  them  only  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic  ;  and,  while 
they  are  acquiring  these  arts,  let  them  practically  learn  the  art 
of  husbandry.  In  a  word,  bring  them  up  precisely  in  the  man- 
ner in  which  our  substantial  farmers  educate  their  own  sons,  till 
thev  reach  the  acre  of  twentv-one.  When  thus  instructed,  — 
when  thus  habituated  to  the  most  useful  labor,  —  place  them 
in  the  condition  of  those  farmers'  sons.  Give  to  each  a  cow, 
a  yoke  of  oxen,  a  plough,  a  cart,  and  the  other  proper  instru- 
ments of  husbandry.  Give  them  the  other  necessary  domestic 
animals.  They  will  need  no  other  gifts  ;  they  have  land  in 
abundance,  invitiog  the  hand  of  cultivation.  To  introduce 
this  degree  of  civilization,  the  method  promising  the  best  suc- 
cess appears  to  me  to  be  this :  Appoint  some  benevolent 
man,  whose  prudence  equals  his  benevolence,  to  treat  on  the 
subject  with  that  tribe  of  Indians  which  shall  appear  best 
disposed  tov;ards  the  measure.  Let  it  be  offered  as  an  experi- 
ment, for  the  benefit  of  volunteers,  with  an  assurance  that 
'tis  meant  for  their  good  ;  and  that  it  shall  be  dropped,  if, 
after  a  fair  experiment,  it  should  not  be  found  useful  and 
agreeable  to  them.  The  proposition  would  be  :  To  open  in 
one  of  their  towns  a  school  of  plain  learning  and  husbandry. 
The  director,  or  superintendent,  should  have  a  discreet  school- 
master to  teach  reading,  writing  and  arithmetic,  and  two  or 
three  young  men  who  are  complete  farmers,  to  teach  the  art 
of  husbandry  to  such  Indian  boys  and  youths  as  should  be 
found  willing  to  learn,  and  whose  parents  should  a2:)prove  of 
the  plan.  If  the  Indians  should  ever  learn  and  practise  the 
arts  of  civil  life  (and  I  cannot  admit  the  idea  that  their  minds 
are  cast  in  a  mould  so  different  from  that  of  the  rest  of  their 
species  as  to  be  incapable  of  cultivation),  I  am  inclined  to  think 
a  beginning  must  be  made  nearly  in  the  manner  here  suggested. 
The  annual  expense,  for  the  first  two  or  three  years,  need 
not  exceed  two  thousand  dollars.  The  expense  afterwards 
would  be  proportioned  to  the  number  of  cattle,  &c.,  which 
should  be  furnished.  The  continuance  of  expense  might  be 
limited  to  a  moderate  term  of  3'ears.  Perhaps  nearly  the 
whole  charge  might  eventually  be  defrayed  by  the  Indians,  by 


472  LIFE  OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

voluntary  p-ants  of  land,  in  such  manner  as  the  President  of 
the  United  States  should  approve. 

"  The  experiment  being  once  made,  and  found  successful, 
might  be  repeated  among  all  the  Indian  tribes ;  and  as  soon 
as  husbandry  shall,  with  general  approbation,  be  established 
in  a  nation,  they  will  find  their  extensive  hunting  grounds 
unnecessary  ;  and  will  then  readily  listen  to  a  proposition  to 
sell  a  part  of  them,  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  for  every 
family  domestic  animals  and  instruments  of  husbandry.  The 
idea  here  suggested  is  interesting  to  humanity :  it  is  peculiarly 
interesting  to  the  United  States.  Even  in  a  pecuniary  view, 
it  is  important.  A  single  campaign  would  cost  more  than  the 
entire  establishment  of  these  schools  of  humanity  among  all 
the  Indian  nations  within  their  limits. 

"The  British,  I  am  informed,  expend  many  thousands  an- 
nually in  presents  to  the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations.  But 
the  charity  (if  such  it  can  be  called)  is  as  ill-placed  as  it  is 
ill-conducted.  In  its  consequences,  it  is  highly  injurious  to 
the  Indians  themselves  ;  for,  in  proportion  to  the  largeness 
of  the  presents  usually  received,  their  industry  will  naturally 
be  abated.  The  object  of  the  plan  here  sketched  is  to  furnish 
the  Indians  with  the  means,  and  to  produce  a  disposition  to 
support  themselves  in  a  condition  of  all  the  most  eligible  for 
the  mass  of  the  nation,  —  the  condition  of  husbandmen.  To 
me  the  plan  appears  not  difficult  to  execute.  And  if  it  would 
be  the  surest  and  the  cheapest  method  of  preserving  the 
friendship  of  the  Indians  (as  I  conceive  it  would),  it  may 
merit  public  attention.  Its  expediency  struck  me  so  forcibly, 
I  could  not  forbear  submitting  it  to  your  inspection. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  very  great  respect.  Sir,  your 
most  obedient  servant, 

"  T.  Pickering. 

"  The  President  of  the  United  States." 

"Philadelphia,  January  15th,  1791. 

"  Sir, 

"  I  intended  to  have  done  myself  the  honor  of  waiting  on 
you  in  person  ;  but  a  letter  may  give  you  less  trouble. 

"  General  Knox  informed  me  that  it  would  be  agreeable 
to  you  that  I  should  undertake  the  superintendency  of  the 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERDsG.  473 

northern  Indians,  —  I  mean  particularly  the  Six  Nations ; 
and  that  you  desired  him  to  mention  it  to  me.  I  answered 
that,  by  the  new  Constitution  of  Pennsylvania,  a  Continental 
appointment  was  declared  to  be  incompatible  with  the  appoint- 
ments I  held  under  the  State  ;  and  I  supposed  the  nature  of 
such  superintendency  would  not  warrant  any  considerable 
emolument.  In  a  subsequent  conversation  I  intimated  a 
willingness  to  perform  the  necessary  services  respecting  the 
Six  Nations,  without  any  formal  appointment ;  but  this  idea 
seemed  not  to  have  been  approved.  Afterwards  I  found  that 
all  the  Indians  north  of  the  Ohio  were  already  arranged  under 
one  department,  of  which  General  St.  Clair  was  the  Superin- 
tendent, who,  with  your  permission,  might  appoint  a  deputy. 
General  Knox  seemed  to  wish  that  the  matter  might  be  sus- 
pended until  the  arrival  of  General  St.  Clan,  who  was  daily 
expected.  Since  that  time  I  have  reflected  on  the  subject ; 
and,  upon  the  whole,  would  beg  leave  to  decline  taking  the 
superintendency  proposed.  Though  not  without  expressing 
the  real  pleasure  I  feel  in  the  favorable  sentiments  you  enter- 
tain concerning  me  ;  and  assuring  you  of  my  readiness  to 
render  any  occasional  services  in  that  line  which  your  wishes 
for  the  public  good  may  require. 

"  Permit  me.  Sir,  to  add  a  few  words  relative  to  the  sub- 
ject of  the  last  letter  I  had  the  honor  to  ^Tite  to  you.  Before 
I  wrote,  two  circumstances  made  me  hesitate.  One,  lest  it 
should  be  thought  that  I,  like  many  projectors,  was  contriving 
an  employment  for  myself ;  the  other,  lest  if  such  a  plan  should 
be  approved  and  established,  I  should  in  fact  be  requested  to 
undertake  the  execution  of  it ;  to  which  request,  sentiments 
of  humanity  and  regard  to  the  public  good  might  urge  me 
to  yield  ;  while  other  views,  and  the  feelings  of  my  family 
might  be  strongly  opposed  to  it.  My  opinion,  however,  of 
the  utility,  as  well  as  of  the  practicabiUty  of  the  plan  proposed 
for  introduciniT  the  art  of  husbandrv  and  civilization  amoiiGf 
the  Indians,  remains  the  same.  It  was  an  opinion  not  hastily 
formed.  But  lest  a  partiality  for  a  project  of  my  own  should 
mislead  my  judgment,  I  submitted  it  to  the  examination  of 
two  or  three  gentlemen  of  discernment ;  and  it  received  their 


474  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

approbation  before  I  would  venture  to  give  you  the  trouble 
of  reading  a  long  letter  about  it. 

"  Although,  Sir,  I  have  declined  the  proposed  permanent 
agency  in  Indian  affairs,  I  have  not  withdrawn  my  views 
from  public  life,  but  should  cheerfully  engage  in  it  when  an 
opening  for  useful  employment,  more  beneficial  than  the 
offices  I  hold  under  this  State,  shall  present.  Two  of  these 
offices  are  now  rendered  certain,  by  recent  appointments 
somewhat  unexpectedly  made.  But  they  are  all  of  too  little 
value  for  me  to  depend  on  during  the  rest  of  my  life.  When- 
ever, therefore,  any  suitable  employment  shall  offer,  I  shall 
feel  myself  peculiarly  obliged  by  your  remembrance  of  me. 

"  With  the  most  sincere  respect,  I  am.  Sir,  your  obedient, 

humble  servant, 

"  ToiOTHY  Pickering. 

"  The  President  of  the  United  States." 

"Philadelphia,  January  20th,  1791. 

Sir, 

I  have  had  the  pleasure  to  receive  your  letters  of  the  8th 
and  loth  of  this  month.  I  feel  myself  much  obliged  by  the 
trouble  3^ou  have  taken,  in  the  former,  to  detail  your  ideas 
with  respect  to  introducing  the  art  of  husbandr}^  and  civiliza- 
tion among  the  Indians.  I  confess  that  your  plan,  or  something 
like  it,  strikes  me  as  the  most  probable  means  of  accomplish- 
ing this  desirable  end,  and  I  am  fully  of  opinion  with  you, 
that  the  mode  of  education  which  has  hitherto  been  pursued 
with  res2:)ect  to  those  young  Indians  who  have  been  sent 
to  our  colleges,  is  not  such  as  can  be  productive  of  any  good 
to  their  nations :  reason  might  have  shown  it,  and  experience 
clearly  proves  it  to  have  been  the  case.  It  is,  perhaps,  pro- 
ductive of  evil.  Humanity  and  good  policy  must  make  it 
the  wish  of  every  good  citizen  of  the  United  States  that  hus- 
bandry, and  consequently  civilization,  should  be  introduced 
among  the  Indians.  So  strongly  am  I  impressed  with  the 
beneficial  effects  which  our  country  would  receive  from  such 
a  thing,  that  I  shall  always  take  a  singular  pleasure  ifi  pro- 
moting, as  far  as  may  be  in  my  power,  every  measure  which 
may  tend  to  ensure  it. 

I  should  have  been  very  glad  if  it  had  comported  with 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERI^'G.  475 

your  interest  and  inclination  to  superintend  the  northern 
Indians,  as  I  am  persuaded  that  nothing  would  have  been 
wanting  on  your  part  to  attach  them  to  the  United  States, 
and  to  cultivate  that  disposition  for  civilization  which  now 
begins  to  dawn  amonq;  them.  Whoever  undertakes  this  bus- 
iness  must  be  actuated  by  more  enlarged  views  than  his  pri- 
vate interest,  or  he  can  never  accomplish  the  wished-for 
end. 

"  With  very  great  regard  and  esteem,  I  am,  Sir,  your  most 
obedient  servant, 

"  G.  Washington. 

"CoLOXEL  Timothy  Pickering." 

Colonel  Pickering's  conference  with  the  Indians  at 
Tioga  Point  was  the  beginning  of  a  public  service  in  this 
department  of  much  importance.  He  was  singularly  ad- 
apted to  it.  There  were  many  particulars  in  his  aspect, 
deportment,  and  character  that  gave  him  great  influence 
over  Indians,  and  won  their  confidence  and  good-wilL 
His  lofty  stature,  six  feet;  his  broad  athletic  frame,  and 
powerful  muscular  development  ;  the  strength  that 
marked  every  movement ;  his  tread  and  gestures  ;  a  cer- 
tain manliness  in  his  general  bearing  ;  his  physical  hardi- 
hood :  and  the  energy,  courage,  and  firmness  stamped 
on  his  face,  words,  and  actions,  —  were  just  what  they  ad- 
mired. There  was,  as  all  who  knew  him  will  remember, 
one  point  in  which  he  possessed  what  it  is  the  greatest 
pride  of  an  Indian  to  exhibit.  Although  he  was  natu- 
rally demonstrative,  and  in  conversation  or  debate  all 
alive,  giving  the  fullest  expression  to  his  feelings,  when 
in  silence  his  face  was  accustomed  to  subside  into  an 
immovable  and  impassive  composure  which  nothing 
could  break.  No  external  novelty,  excitement,  or  peril  ; 
no  bodily  discomfort  or  pain ;  and  no  depth  or  force  of 


476  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

internal  passion  or  sentiment,  —  could  disturb  the  resolute 
repose  of  liis  features.  The  Indians  saw  that  he  had 
achieved  the  last  attainment  of  a  great  warrior  ;  and  that, 
undazzled  and  undaunted,  no  indication  of  surprise  or 
weakness  or  concern  could  be  traced  on  his  impertur- 
bable countenance.  The  Wyoming  ruffians,  who  had 
him  chained  in  the  woods,  also  saw  this.  It  disarmed 
them  of  all  evil  purpose,  and  compelled  their  respect. 

The  good-will  and  confidence  of  the  Indians  toward 
him  were  signalized  by  the  highest  compliment  they 
could  pay  to  any  white  man.  They  made  him,  as  it 
were,  an  honorary  chief,  by  giving  him  an  Indian  title, 
such  as  they  bestowed  upon  their  leading  sachems  and 
warriors.  It  was  "  Conni-sauti,"  meaning  the  "sunny 
side  of  a  hill."  In  the  interchange  of  formal  speeches 
at  conferences  around  the  council  fire,  they  addressed 
him  as  -'  Brother  Conni-sauti." 

Before  further  describing  Colonel  Pickering's  dis- 
charge of  the  duties  of  the  high  public  trusts  and  sta- 
tions to  which  he  was  called  by  Washington  and  Adams, 
it  may  be  well,  at  this  point,  to  relate  matters  of  family 
and  domestic  interest  and  affection,  by  extracts  from  his 
correspondence. 

On  the  23d  of  December,  two  days  after  his  arrival 
at  Philadelphia  to  make  report  of  the  conference  at 
Tioga  Point,  writing  to  his  brother,*  he  says  : — 

"  Here  I  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  Mr.  TVingate  (I  am 
now  at  his  lodgings),  whom  I  have  not  seen  in  fourteen  years. 


*Mr.  Wingate,  his  brother-in-law,  was,  it  will  be  remembered,  a  Senator  in 
Congress  from  New  Hampshire.  Benjamin  Goodhue,  of  Salem,  was  a  member 
of  the  House  from  Massachusetts. 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  477 

Mr.  Goodliue  lodges  at  the  same  house.  Mr.  Wingate  gives 
me  a  flattering  account  of  my  son  John.  I  wish  he  could  be 
persuaded  to  write  to  me ;  but  perhaps  he  has  almost  for- 
gotten me ;  or  ceases  to  remember  me  with  affection.  His 
brother  Tim,  would  be  very  much  gratified  by  a  letter  from 
him.  His  other  brothers  scarcely  recollect,  or  never  knew 
him.  We  think  they  are  all  fine  boys,  whom  our  eastern 
friends  would  see  with  pleasure." 

Chief-Justice  Sargeant  was  one  of  Colonel  Pickering's 
most  agreeable  and  valued  correspondents.  His  letters 
are  inspired  with  fraternal  love,  natural,  racy,  and  en- 
livened by  a  peculiar  wit  and  humor.  The  Colonel 
combined  the  utmost  strictness  of  the  Puritan,  with  the 
most  refined  deference  of  the  Chevalier,  in  the  society 
of  the  sex.  All  who  think  of  the  propriety  of  his 
manners,  and  the  purity  of  bis  morals  in  all  respects, 
especially  in  this,  cannot  but  feel  how  extremely  laugh- 
able is  Sargeant's  allusion  to  the  "  pretty  Genesee 
squaws." 

"Haverhill,  December  6th,  1790. 
*'DeAE   BPwOTHER, 

"  Fearing  lest  I  was  forgotten,  I  have  embraced  this  oppor- 
tunity to  put  you  in  mind  that  you  have  a  brother  and  sister 
living  in  Haverhill.  We  both  rejoice  when  we  meet  with  a 
letter  from  you  at  Salem,  informing  of  the  health  of  yourself 
and  your  family,  —  family  of  seven  sons.  What  a  goodly 
sight !  Your  sister  thinks  of  scarcely  a  greater  happiness, 
than  to  see  yourself,  wife,  and  seven  sons  at  once  ;  though  we 
have  but  little  reason  to  expect  that  happiness,  it  would  give 
us  great  pleasure  if  we  could  hear  about  them  by  a  letter 
directly  to  us.  Though,  perhaps,  Ave  have  been  too  negligent 
in  writing,  yet  we  have  done  our  duty  in  making  inquiry,  for 
I  believe  we  have  missed  no  opportunity  of  doing  that.  Your 
old  friend  Nelson  refreshed  us  with  his  account  of  you.  We 
rejoiced  when  we   heard   of  your   appointment   as  Plenipo 


478  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  TICKERIXG. 

among  the  Genesee  Nations ;  pray  let  us  have  an  account 
of  that  campaign,  —  how  you  did,  fared,  and  what  success; 
whetlier  you  kissed  any  pretty  squaws,  &c.,  as  before. 

"  We  have  lately  been  at  Salem,  and  found  all  your  and 
our  friends  there  in  good  health  and  spirits.  Your  son,  I 
think,  is  a  promising  youth.  His  mechanical  genius  will  not 
disgrace  his  family,  and  I  believe,  in  other  respects,  his  genius 
is  very  good.  Your  sister  Sargeant  is  a  thorough  disciple  of 
Mr.  Shandy  ;  and  she  thinks  you  have  been  very  faulty  in  not 
informing  your  son,  or  some  of  your  relations  at  Salem,  of  the 
Christian  name  of  your  j^oungest  son.  Christian  names  being 
of  very  great  importance  to  the  poor  little  child,  through  the 
whole  course  of  its  life ;  but  she  consoles  herself  with  the 
thought  that  your  judgment  in  that  matter  also  is  very  good. 
I  must  speak  one  word  for  myself.  I  would  gladly  oblige  you, 
in  turn,  by  giving  you  an  account  of  the  disposition  of  our 
peojDle  and  the  state  of  our  government,  but  am  sensible  you 
have  fuller  and  better  accounts  of  both  from  your  numerous 
acquaintance  than  I  am  able  to  give.  I  am  very  desirous  to 
know  of  the  state  of  population,  the  cultivation  of  the  land, 
and  the  dispositions  of  the  people  towards  government  among 
you,  and  whether  you  enjoy  the  good  opinion  of  the  people  as 
much  as  I  know  you  deserve  it :  should  be  very  happy  to  be 
resolved  as  to  those  matters,  partly  because  I  know  if  they 
could  be  resolved  as  I  could  wish,  you  would  enjoy  a  good 
degree  of  happiness.  We  all  enjoy  good  health  except  my- 
self. The  influenza  last  year  fell  on  poor  me,  as  well  as 
everybody  else  ;  and  left  upon  me  a  very  troublesome  asth- 
matic disorder,  which  it  is  very  doubtful  if  I  ever  get  rid 
of.  I  find  my  flesh  wears  away  slowly,  but  I  always  had 
some  to  spare.  What  will  be  the  end  of  it,  He  that  has  a 
right  to  dispose  of  me,  only  knows.  Hoping  we  shall  soon 
hear  of  your  health  and  welfare,  and  presenting  our  most 
respectful  love  and  regards  to  yourself,  sister,  and  family, 
subscribe 

"  Your  most  affectionate  brother  and  sister, 

Nathaniel  Peaslee  and  Mary  Sargeant." 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  479 

This  letter  did  not  reach  Colonel  Pickering  until  Feb- 
ruary 20th,  1791.  His  answer  gives  a  full  account  of 
his  family  at  that  time. 

"  Dear  Brother  akd  Sister, 

"  I  received  but  a  few  days  ago  your  favor  of  December, 
and  have  now  scarcely  time  to  acknowledge  it,  as  the  bearer 
is  just  ready  to  start. 

"  I  was  pleased  that  you  should  concur  with  me,  in  think- 
ing a  circle  of  seven  sons  '  a  goodly  sight.'  When  my  wife 
sometimes  groans  under  the  burthen,  I  tell  her  that  if  I  could 
support  them,  I  should  be  doubly  pleased  with  twice  that 
number.  But  what,  more  than  all,  makes  me  happy,  is  that 
they  all  discover  understandings  and  dispositions  which  may 
procure  honor  to  themselves,  and  enable  them  to  be  useful 
members  of  society  ;  or,  if  there  be  a  failure,  it  is  in  the 
capacity  of  our  third  son,  Henry,  which  is  evidently  inferior 
to  any  of  his  brothers ;  yet  by  no  means  contemptible.  In- 
deed one  familv  of  our  friends,  with  whom  he  lived  some 
months  in  Philadelphia,  thought  him  an  extraordinary  boy, 
and  to  this  day  speak  of  him  with  great  pleasure.  Tim  is  a 
smart  boy,  and  a  resolute  one.  Nobody  will  ever  use  him  iU 
with  impunity.  John  used  to  be  timid.  Tim  was  never  so 
disposed  to  study  as  John ;  but  had  a  greater  aptness  to  ac- 
quire a  knowledge  of  numbers,  notwithstanding  the  disparity 
of  years ;  that  aptness  and  fondness  for  numbers  still  contin- 
ues. I  have  only  to  regret  that,  at  his  age,  he  has  not  the 
advantage  of  a  good  school ;  and  the  crowd  of  business 
pressing  upon  me  has  prevented  my  exercising  the  pleasing 
task  myself.  Tim  says  he  will  be  a  farmer.  He  is  intelligent, 
and  will  make  a  useful  man  in  whatever  he  engages.  Charles, 
our  fourth  son,  is  a  fine  boy ;  his  black  sparkling  eyes  early 
announced  a  bright  understanding.  I  shall  be  greatl}^  disap- 
pointed if  he  does  not  shine  in  a  learned  profession,  if 
it  please  God  to  spare  my  life  and  his,  and  enable  me  to  give 
him  a  suitable  education.  William  is  now  five  years  old,  and 
yesterday  had  a  little  pains  taken  with  him  to  teach  him  the 
alphabet,  which  he  nearly  learned,  for  which  I  gave  him 
a  new  primer ;  and  to-day,  if  he  completes  his  knowledge  of 


480  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  riCKERING. 

it,  he  is  to  have  a  great  apple  (which  is  as  great  a  rarity 
here  as  an  orange  is  with  you).  William  is  disposed  to  be 
waggish  ;  is  not  deficient  in  understanding,  but  I  cannot  yet 
tell  what  he  will  make.  Edward  was  three  years  old  last 
September,  a  stout  fellow,  as  heavy  or  heavier  than  William, 
and  nearly  as  tall ;  and  his  mind  has  kept  pace  with  his  body. 
He  is  a  bold,  manly  fellow,  and  often  surprises  us  with  ex- 
pressions which  we  should  hardly  expect  from  a  child  much 
older  tlian  he.  He  is  fair  skinned,  his  hair  reddish,  and  has 
large  features.  If  sister  Clark  were  to  see  him,  she  would  say 
of  him,  as  she  once  said  of  me,  '  well,  brother  Tim,  you  are 
despert  homely."     But  everybody  loves  him. 

"  George  (for  that  is  the  name  of  our  seventh  son)  is  as 
small  as  Edward  is  large.  He  was  a  year  old  last  August. 
His  complexion  is  just  like  Edward's,  his  eyes  bluish,  and  his 
features  small  and  regular  ;  and  we  call  him  '  mamma's  pretty 
boy.'  He  is  more  forward  than  were  any  of  his  brothers,  and 
his  actions  indicate  a  good  understanding,  wdth  a  quantum 
sufficit  of  spirit. 

"  How  pleasant  to  a  father  to  descant  on  such  sons  !  Your 
own  remark,  ^  what  a  goodly  sight,'  set  my  pen  a  running ; 
and  here  I  have  almost  got  to  the  end  of  my  paper,  with  what 
is  little  different  from  egotisms.  But  you  also  intimated  the 
great  pleasure  a  sight  of  them  would  give  you ;  and  the  de- 
scription now  given,  in  some  sort,  presents  them  to  your  view. 
The  detail  will  give  you  as  much  pleasure  as  a  long  account 
of  my  Indian  conference,  on  which  I  can  only  say,  that  I  was 
highly  gratified,  that  I  entertain  a  better  opinion  of  our 
tawny  neighbors  than  I  used  to  do ;  and  that  I  firmly  believe 
most  of  their  revengeful  hostilities  are  occasioned  by  the  rob- 
beries, murders,  and  encroachments,  and  other  abuses  they 
receive  from  our  frontier  white  savages ;  for,  really,  their  dis- 
positions appear  to  me  more  fierce  and  revengeful  than  those 
of  the  Indians  with  whom  I  treated.  I  must  bid  you  farewell, 
with  only  presenting,  with  my  own,  the  affectionate  regards 
of  my  wife.  I  lament  your  indisposition,  and  pray  God  your 
health  may  be  restored. 

"TniOTHY   PlCKEEESTG." 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTflY  PICKERING.  481 

Judge  Sargeant  died  in  October  of  that  year. 

These  letters,  besides  the  pleasing  family  affections 
and  pictures  they  present,  are  particularly  interesting 
as  illustrating  the  fallibility  of  early  prognostications  as 
to  the  future  development  of  the  faculties  and  character 
of  the  young.  It  was  supposed  that  John  Pickering, 
then  thirteen  years  of  ao^e.  would  distins^uish  himself  in 
life,  and  reflect  honor  upon  his  family  by  his  ''  Jiiechani- 
cal  fi:enius  !  "  x\nd  the  father  thought  that  Henrv,  a  lad 
between  nine  and  ten  years,  was  "inferior"  to  all  the 
brothers  in  his  "  capacity."  He  became,  in  fact,  a  most 
accomplished  man  ;  his  mind  enriched  by  classic  culture 
and  taste,  expressing  itself  in  pure  and  elegant  poetry, 
and  appreciating,  as  few  others  did,  the  beauties  of  art 
in  its  kindred  branches.  In  commercial  and  business 
pursuits  he  was  efficient  and  enterprising,  exhibiting  a 
broad  and  generous  cast  of  mind  and  character.  Ad- 
mired in  private  circles,  he  filled  a  sphere  of  usefulness 
and  beneficence,  towards  his  family  and  parents,  never 
surpassed  by  son  or  brother. 

The  truth  is,  that  the  poor  boy,  in  his  earlier  residence 
in  Philadelphia,  child  as  he  was,  had  acquired  a  love  of 
city  life.  His  faculties  pined  in  the  woods  and  soli- 
tudes of  Wyoming.  What  the  flower  needed  was  trans- 
plantation. 

In  some  instances  surrounding  circumstances  give, 
even  in  the  earliest  years,  a  lasting  bent  to  the  mind: 
in  others,  no  particular  tendencies  come  into  play  until 
more  maturity  is  reached.  Some  faculties  and  tastes, 
are  of  slow  growth,  germinate  late,  but  in  the  end 
overshadow  others,  which  at  first  had  the  start.  The 
whole   mental   character  has   been   seen  to  undergo  a 

Vol.  II.  31 


482  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

change,  particularly  in  the  earlier  decades  of  life.  What 
aspects  it  may  finally  present,  depends  upon  the  contin- 
gencies of  an  unknown  future,  and  cannot,  therefore,  be 
surely  foreseen  or  safely  predicted. 

"  War  Department,  February  25th,  1791. 

''Sir, 

"  It  is  in  contemplation  to  make  a  vigorous  campaign 
against  the  Indians  north-west  of  the  Ohio ;  although  the 
measures  for  this  object  are  not  finally  decided  upon,  yet  it 
appears  that  only  the  legislative  forms  are  wanting. 

"  The  Quartermaster's  business  on  the  frontiers  has  hitherto 
been  conducted  under  the  contractors ;  but  it  is  conceived 
not  to  be  so  economical  as  to  appoint  a  Quartermaster  for  the 
department,  accordingly  provision  is  made  in  the  bill  fo  a 
Quartermaster,  with  the  pay,  rations,  and  forage  of  a  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Commandant,  but  without  any  rank.  An  esti- 
mate of  the  amount  is  annexed. 

"  It  is  the  desire  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  that 
the  offer  of  this  appointment  should,  in  confidence,  be  made 
to  you.  If  you  should  think  proper  to  accept,  the  nomination 
will  be  made  accordingly. 

"  In  this  case  it  would  be  necessary  that  you  should  repair 
here  immediately,  as  the  most  vigorous  preparations  would  be 
necessary. 

"  I  wish.  Sir,  that  you  may  accept  this  offer,  and  that  it  was, 
in  a  pecuniary  point  of  view,  more  worthy  of  your  acceptance. 
All  necessary  assistance  would  be  afforded  in  the  execution 
of  the  business,  and  such  advances  of  money  would  be  made, 
as  that  nothing  should  languish  on  that  account. 

"  I  am.  Sir,  with  great  esteem  and  respect,  your  very  hum- 
ble servant, 

"  H.  Knox,  Secretary  of  War. 

"  Colonel  Timothy  Pickering. 

"  An  estimate  of  the  pay  and  emoluments  of  a  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Commandant. 

Pay,  at  60  dollars,  per  nionth 720 

6  rations  per  day  at  yW  dollars  per  ration 216 

Forage,  at  12  dollars  per  month 144 

$1080" 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  483 

"Philadelphia,  February  25th,  1791. 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  I  was  sent  for  this  day  to  give  an  opinion,  whether  you 
would  accept  the  appointment,  which  the  letter,  herewith 
presented,  tenders  to  you.  I  had  my  doubts,  yet  I  encour- 
aged the  sending  to  you  for  your  own  determination. 

"  The  emplo3anent,  though  arduous  and  not  profitable,  may 
lead  to  something  better.  Indeed,  the  terms  held  out  to  you 
in  the  estimate  annexed  to  your  letter,  lam  authorized  to  say^ 
will  not  be  considered  a  full  allowance,  provided  you  accept. 
For  another^  it  will  be  in  full. 

"  I  cannot  add,  for  the  express  is  waiting,  and  he  must  be 

here  again  on  Wednesday  next.     The  President  of  the  United 

States  sets  off  for  home,  and  a  southern  tour  on  Sunday  or 

Monday  at  farthest. 

"  Affectionately  yours, 

"  SAJklUEL   HODGDON. 
"  Colonel  Pickering." 

"  "WiLKESBARRE,  February  28th,  1791. 

"  Sir, 

"  The  express  arrived  this  evening  with  your  letter  of  the 
25th  instant.  I  beg  you  to  communicate  to  the  President  my 
sincere  thanks  for  his  attention  to  me  in  the  proposition  which, . 
at  his  desire,  you  have  made  to  me.  I  am  disposed  to  believe 
the  President's  motives  are  honorable  to  me,  as  well  as 
friendly ;  and  it  gives  me  much  pain  to  decline  a  service  in 
which  he  has  thought  I  should  be  useful.  If  I  consulted  only 
my  own  feelings,  I  should  little  hesitate  to  accept  of  the  offer,  at 
the  same  time  that  I  should  consider  the  pecuniary  compen- 
sation as  inadequate  ;  though  it  is  probably  equal  to  the  object' 
of  the  office. 

"  But  I  am  not  in  a  situation  to  make  sacrifices  to  the  pub- 
lic. My  little  farm  and  my  State  offices,  with  industry  and 
economy,  I  expect  will  yield  a  frugal  maintenance  to  my 
numerous  family.  The  acceptance  of  the  proposed  appoint- 
ment for  a  single  campaign  (and  I  have  no  idea  that  it  can  be 
longer  necessary)  would  oust  me  of  those  offices,  and,  in  my 
absence,  my  farm  would  turn  to  small  account.  I  am  aware 
of  personal  advantages  that  may  result  from  the  appointment, 
and  that  it  might  be  highly  conducive  to  my  future  interest ; 


484  LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

but  T  am  not  in  a  situation  to  hazard  the  little  I  now  enjoy, 
for  threat,  but  remote  and  contingent,  benefits. 

"  I  cannot  conclude.  Sir,  without  an  acknowledgment  of  the 
polite  and  friendly  manner  in  which  you  have  made  known  to 
me  the  President's  request. 

''  With  great  respect  and  esteem  I  am.  Sir,  your  obliged  and 

obedient  servant, 

*' Timothy  Pickering. 

"  Honorable  H.  Knox,  Secretary  of  War. 

It  seems  that,  while  the  circumstances  attending  the 
])roffer  of  this  office  were  agreeable.  Colonel  Pickering 
did  not  hesitate  to  decline  it.  His  views  on  the  sub- 
ject were  more  fully  expressed  in  a  letter  written  the 
same  evening  to  Major  Hodgdon. 

"  WiLKESBARRE,  February  28th,  1791. 

"  Just  before  night,  Mr.  Fisher  handed  me  your  letter  of 
the  25th  instant. 

"  I  foresee  some  advantages,  and  can  discern  remoter  val- 
uable prospects,  which  my  acceptance  of  the  proposed  office 
would  hold  up  to  my  view ;  and  were  I  a  single  man,  or  had 
a  very  small  family,  which  a  small  salary  would  decently  sup- 
port, I  should  not  much  hesitate  to  engage  in  it.  But,  cir- 
cumstanced as  I  am,  I  must  decline  it ;  though  it  gives  me 
pain  to  refuse  what  the  President,  with  a  confidence  so  flat- 
tering to  me,  has  desired  might  be  proposed.  So  much  for 
private  considerations. 

''  From  the  interest  I  take  in  whatever  concerns  the  public 
welfare,  I  feel  a  desire  to  engage  in  the  business.  Economi- 
cal views  have  suggested  the  establishment  of  the  office,  and, 
perhaps  in  part,  dictated  the  proposal  to  me.  But  I  have  higher 
views  (perhaps  vain  ones)  which  on  this  subject  interest  my 
feelings.  Although  the  measures  and  events  of  the  last  cam- 
paign appear  to  render  a  powerful  armament,  at  this  time, 
indispensable,  yet,  while  I  carried  the  sword  in  one  hand,  I 
should  wish  to  hold  the  olive-branch  in  the  other.  It  is  true 
that  my  knowledge  of  Indians  is  confined  to  the  northern 
tribes,  and  the  result  of  small  experience  ;  yet,  really,  I  con- 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  485 

ceive  it  possible  to  make  peace  with  the  western  nations, 
without  the  loss  of  much  more  blood.  I  conceive  it  possible 
to  convince  them  of  the  superior  power  of  the  United  States, 
and  of  the  fruitlessness  and  destructive  consequences  of 
their  opposition. 

"  If  I  mistake  not,  I  have  heard  the  Indians  against  whom 
Harmar's  expedition  was  formed  represented  as  a  banditti;  the 
refuse  of  divers  nations,  thieves,  robbers,  murderers.  I  cannot 
but  doubt  the  justness  of  these  appellations.  They  are  the  very 
names  formerly  given  by  the  Pennsylvania  land-jobbers  to  the 
Connecticut  se  ttlers  at  Wyoming.  And  I  am  much  disposed  to 
believe  that  they  are  the  land-jobbers  of  the  western  world  who 
have  caused  the  like  descriptions  to  be  applied  to  the  western 
Indians.  But  do  such  opprobrious  gangs  as  the  description 
designates,  cultivate  extensive  fields  of  corn  and  fruits  ?  Do 
they  build  numerous  and  large  villages  ?  Do  they  take  pains 
to  search  out  judicious  and  delightful  situations  on  which  to 
erect  them  ?  No.  Such  works  are  the  result  of  a  decree  of 
order  and  industry ;  and  indicate  expectations  of  permanent 
enjoyment,  far  surpassing  the  views  of  a  banditti.  In  a 
word,  I  believe  the  Indians,  inhabiting  the  towns  de- 
stroyed by  Harmar,  to  be  not  very  unlike  the  Indian  tribes 
with  which  I  have  some  acquaintance ;  that  they  feel  sore  of 
the  many  injuries  they  have  received  of  the  white  people,  and 
that,  in  their  mode,  they  have  been  taking  revenge  ;  but  that 
it  is  practicable  to  convince  them,  that  it  is  their  interest  to 
live  in  friendship  with  the  United  States;  and  convinced  of  this, 
thev  would  cease  their  hostilities,  when  the  frontier  white 
people  should  cease  to  provoke  them.  But  a  truce  to  ani- 
madversions. 

''T.  Pickering." 

On  the  10th  of  April,  1791,  Major  Hodgdon  was  re- 
quested to  call  at  the  War  Office,  for  the  purpose  of  ob- 
taining his  opinion,  whether  Colonel  Pickering  could  be 
persuaded  to  undertake  another  mission  to  the  Indians. 
''  The  business  being  explained  to  me,"  he  wTites  to 
Pickering,  "  I  hesitated  not  to  declare  that  you  would 


486  LIFE   OF   TIMOTUY   PICKERING. 

undertake  the  business  proposed.  This  will  bring  you 
to  the  city,  and  to  my  house  of  course.  I  know  it  will 
call  you  from  your  agricultural  pursuits  at  an  unfavor- 
able season  ;  but  Sir,  in  my  opinion,  the  object  in  view 
will  warrant  your  doing  it.  I  consult  your  interest. 
You  must  determine  finally." 

Shortly  after  receiving  this  letter,  he  went  to  Philadel- 
phia, and,  upon  concluding  an  engagement  with  the 
Secretary  of  War,  wrote  to  his  brother :  — 

"Philadelphia,  April  23d,  1791. 

"  Dear  Brother, 

"  An  unexpected  call  to  this  city,  to  prepare  for  holding 
another  treaty  with  the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations,  gives  ms 
the  pleasure  of  this  opportunity  of  writing  by  Mr.  Dalton. 

'•'•  I  am,  from  time  to  time,  informed  of  your  tolerable  health, 
by  Mr.  Williams's  letters,  which  affords  me  the  truest  pleasure. 
Your  affection  and  friendship  demand  my  warm  and  repeated 
acknowledgments.  The  profits  of  the  former  treaty  greatly 
assisted  me  ;  and  those  of  the  present  one,  I  hope,  will  nearly 
extricate  me  from  pecuniary  demands.  To  do  this  completely, 
however,  I  yet  hold  up  some  of  my  new  lands  for  sale.  If  I 
succeed,  I  shall  not  only  pay  off  the  small  arrears  to  others, 
but  all  your  loans. 

"  I  have  felt  much  concern  for  the  education  of  my  chil- 
dren, who  have  suffered  since  my  removal  to  Wyoming.  At 
present  they  are  provided  for  by  an  ingenious  young  lawyer, 
who  formerly  kept  school,  who  now  boards  at  my  house, 
assists  in  my  office,  and  who  has  undertaken  the  daily  task  of 
instructing  the  children  in  reading  and  writing,  and  Tim  in 
geography.  My  son  John,  I  am  informed,  is  a  good  scholar  ; 
and  now,  I  suppose,  is  fit  for  entering  a  college.  I  have  had 
no  communications  with  you  on  this  subject,  nor  do  I  know 
your  kind  intentions  concerning  him.  I  earnestly  wish  you 
to  write  me.  He  is  yet  young  enough.  Fifteen,  I  think,  is 
early  enough  for  a  youth  to  make  the  best  improvement  of 
college  advantages.  What  estimate  do  you  put  on  John's 
talents  ?      Does  he    discover   an  inclination  for  one  of  the 


LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  487 

learned  professions  ;  or  only  to  acquire,  at  present,  knowlege 
in  general? 

"  I  wish  John  could  be  persuaded  to  write  ;  if  not  to  me, 
at  least  to  his  brother  Tim,  who,  under  all  his  disadvantages, 
will  surely  return  an  answer." 

The  gentleman  spoken  of  as  the  teacher  of  the  chil- 
dren in  the  family  has  been  frequently  mentioned. 
Ebenezer  Bowman  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College, 
Class  of  1782.  After  teaching  school  at  Cambridge,  he 
left  Massachusetts  and  settled  at  Wyoming.  As  has 
been  stated,  when  Colonel  Pickering  opened  the  first 
court  in  Luzerne  Countv,  Mr.  Bowman  with  William 
^Nichols,  Hoswell  Wells,  and  one  other,  were  admitted  to 
the  bar.  They  were  the  only  lawyers  in  the  county 
for  several  years.  In  1794  he  retired  from  practice, 
but  continued  in  active  business.  He  represented  Luzerne 
in  the  Pennsvlvania  House  of  Assemblv  in  1793.  For  a 
long  period  he  boarded  in  Colonel  Pickering's  family,  and 
was  a  faithful  and  zealous  friend.  They  died  in  the  same 
year,  1829. 

The  foregoing  letter  shows  the  condition  of  Colonel 
Pickering,  as  to  pecuniary  affairs,  at  the  time.  He  was 
in  debt  to  his  brother,  and,  to  some  extent,  to  others  ; 
and  under  the  necessity  of  practising  the  greatest  fru- 
gality. He  had  not  the  means  of  educating  his  chil- 
dren beyond  the  elements  of  primary  instruction, 
provided  by  boarding  a  teacher  in  his  family.  His 
new  lands,  in  the  far  west,  and  to  which  he  clunor 
as  the  only  future  support  of  his  family,  could  not, 
even  in  part,  be  then  sold  ;  for  the  improved  public 
credit,  created  by  Hamilton's  funding  system,  had 
turned  the  floating  capital  of  the  country  to  the  national 
stocks,   and    none  was    left    for   investment    in    lands. 


488  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

It  was  owing  to  these  circumstances  that  he  felt  under 
the  necessity  of  obtaining  some  public  employment.  In 
seeking  office,  he  had  to  assume  a  character  most  repug- 
nant to  his  nature.  Every  instance  of  the  kind  has  been 
presented.  He  never  resorted  to  intrigue  or  indirect 
influence.  He  never  asked  the  aid  or  intervention  of 
others  by  way  of  petition  or  memorial  ;  but  always  made 
application,  in  his  own  name  alone,  and  directly  to  the 
appointing  power,  in  plain,  frank,  and  manly  terms. 
His  last  appearance  as  an  office-seeker  is  the  following 
letter  to  Washington :  — 

"  Philadelphia,  May  2d,  1791. 

"  Sir, 

"  Of  the  measures  pursuing  by  General  Knox,  relative  to 
Indian  affairs,  he  doubtless  makes  to  you  the  necessary 
communications.  In  those  communications  he  may,  perhaps, 
have  mentioned  ni}^  being  here,  preparatory  to  my  undertak- 
ing another  mission  to  the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations,  for  the 
purpose  of  confirming  the  peace  and  friendship  subsisting 
between  them  and  the  United  States,  and  as  a  means  of  pre- 
venting their  being  seduced  to  engage  with  the  western 
Indians  in  the  war  against  us. 

"  Upon  my  arrival  I  heard  of  the  vacancy  of  the  office  of 
Comptroller  of  the  Treasury,  and  also  learned  that  there  were 
divers  applicants  who  wished  to  succeed  to  it.  For  my  own 
part,  as  I  had  already  made  known  to  you  my  desire  of  obtaining 
a  permanent  office  in  the  general  government,  I  had  concluded 
not  to  trouble  you  with  a  fresh  application  at  this  time.  But, 
upon  further  reflection,  it  seemed  proper  to  address  you. 
Because,  among  many  applications  pointing  to  the  particular 
office  of  Comptroller,  a  former  general  application  might  not 
come  into  view  ;  because,  if  there  be  any  office  in  the  Treas- 
ury Department  to  which  I  am  competent,  I  conceive  it  to 
be  this ;  and  because,  being  now  at  the  seat  of  government, 
not  to  apply  might  be  construed  as  a  relinquishment  of  all 
pretensions  to  it. 

"  A  general  knowledge  of  pubhc  business,  a   reasonable 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  4-89 

share  of  discernment,  industry,  cool  deliberation,  integrity, 
and  strict  impartiality,  are  the  great  requisites  of  the  office. 
Whether,  Sir,  I  have  or  have  not  just  pretensions  to  any  or  all 
of  those  qualities,  3'ou,  who  have  long  known  me,  can  accu- 
rately determine.  To  you  alone,  therefore,  I  make  my  suit ; 
without  asking  the  patronage  or  recommendation  of  any  man. 
Such  aid  cannot  be  necessary,  nor  proper,  nor  decent:  for  no 
patronage,  no  recommendation,  could  make  you  better  ac- 
quainted ivith  my  character ;  and  that  is  the  only  ground  on 
which  a  recommendation  could  pertinently  be  offered.  For 
mere  patronage  will  never  determine  aj^pointments  to  office 
while  you  preside  in  the  government  of  the  United  States. 

''  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  the  truest  respect,  Sir,  your 
most  obedient  servant, 

"  Tlmothy  Pickering. 

"  The  President  of  the  United  States." 

'  One  of  the  most  remarkable  things  in  Colonel  Pick- 
ering's character  was  his  devotion  to  the  study  and  in- 
terests of  agriculture.  No  private  business  or  public 
employment  could  exclude  it  from  his  thoughts  or  divert 
his  attention  from  it.  While  in  the  hurry  and  crowd  of 
preparatory  arrangements  for  his  Indian  mission,  and 
within  a  day  or  two  of  wTiting  the  above  letter  to  Wash- 
ington, he  sat  down  and  filled  a  letter  of  four  pages 
to  his  brother,  exclusively  on  the  cultivation  of  pease. 

He  fully  appreciated  the  predominant  importance  of 
agriculture  as  the  basis  of  the  wealth  and  happiness  of 
every  nation.  He  worked  upon  his  farm  with  a  constant 
eye  upon  discoveries  that  might  be  made  of  the  best 
methods  of  tilling  land  and  rendering  its  products  valuable. 
Wherever  he  went  his  observations  had  this  direction. 
He  read  all  he  could  find  in  print  on  the  subject.  It 
occupied  a  large  space  in  his  voluminous  correspond- 
ence, and  was  a  topic  of  conversation  with  persons  of  all 
conditions  who  had  practical  ex^perience  relating  to  it. 


490  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

His  knowledge  and  jndgment  as  an  agriculturist  were 
recognized  by  all.  Alexander  Hamilton,  in  taking 
charge  of  the  Treasury  Department,  at  the  opening  of 
the  Federal  government,  in  his  wise  and  broad  states- 
manship, saw  the  importance  of  arriving  at  a  just  esti- 
mate of  the  resources  of  the  whole  country,  upon  which 
to  establish  a  sound  and  solid  financial  policy.  On  the 
subject  of  the  value  of  the  land,  as  an  element  of  na- 
tional wealth,  he  sought  instruction  from  Colonel  Pick- 
ering. In  a  letter  to  him  of  August  13th,  1791,  he 
says : — 

"•  Some  investigations  in  which  I  am  engaged  induce  a 
wish  to  be  able  to  form  as  accurate  an  idea  as  can  be  obtained 
of  the  usual  product,  in  proportion  to  the  value  of  cultivated 
lands,  in  different  parts  of  the  United  States. 

"  As  I  am  pei'suaded  no  person  can  better  assist  me  in  this 
object  than  yourself,  I  take  the  liberty  to  ask  the  favor  of 
your  assistance. 

'•  It  has  occurred  to  me  that  if  the  actual  product  on  culti- 
vated farms,  of  middling  quality,  could  be  ascertained  with 
tolerable  precision,  it  might  afford  as  good  a  rule  by  which  to 
judge^as  the  nature  of  the  thing  admits  of." 

After  explaining  at  some  length  the  sort  of  informa- 
tion of  which  he  was  in  pursuit,  Hamilton  says:  — 

"  In  a  matter  with  which  I  am  not  very  familiar,  it  is  pos- 
sible I  may  have  omitted  circumstances  of  importance  to  the 
object  of  my  inquiry.  The  supplying  of  such  omissions  will 
be  particularly  acceptable.  As  whatever  comes  from  the 
Treasury  is  apt  to  be  suspected  of  having  reference  to  some 
scheme  of  taxation,  it  is  my  wish  that  the  knowledge  of  this 
request  may  be  confined  to  yourself." 

The  enlightened  views  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Treas- 
ury, on  the  subject  of  political  economy,  enabled  him  to  see 
how  important  was  the  information  of  which  he  was  in 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  491 

pursuit,  as  to  the  value  of  agricultural  products  through- 
out the  country,  as  the  foundation  of  a  solid  system 
of  national  finnnce.  If,  however,  he  had  been  more 
"famiUar"  with  the  agricultural  districts  and  popula- 
tion, it  would  have  been  apparent  to  him  that  the  mate- 
rials from  which  reliable  and  definite  deductions  could 
be  made  were  not  then  in  reach.  But  little  statistical 
information  had  been  collected,  and  the  most  intelligent 
farmers  had  extended  their  observations  and  inquiries 
over  very  limited  local  spheres. 

It  w^as  not  until  two  months  had  passed  that  Colonel 
Pickering's  engagements  gave  him  an  opportunity  to 
attend  to  the  subject.  His  reply  to  Colonel  Hamilton's 
letter  is  here  given.  It  will  be  interesting  to  those  com- 
petent to  appreciate  the  progress  that  has  since  been 
made  in  multiplying,  measuring,  and  appraising  the 
products  of  the  soil. 

"Philadelphia,  October  13th,  1791. 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  When  I  received  your  letter  of  the  13th  of  August,  I  did 
not  consider  it  with  that  attention  w^hich  would  have  been 
necessary  if  at  that  time  I  had  attempted  to  answer  the 
questions  you  propose.  Now  it  appears  to  me  impossible  to 
do  it  with  any  degree  of  precision.  It  then  struck  me  that 
certain  communications  to  the  Society  of  Agriculture,  of  this 
city,  would  have  furnished  the  principal  documents  required 
on  the  subject  at  large.  But  upon  a  review  of  them  (after  a 
lapse  of  several  years)  I  find  I  was  mistaken. 

"  In  my  late  absence  from  the  city  I  meant  to  have  made 
inquiries  in  the  counties  through  which  I  travelled  in  this 
State  ;  but  here  also  I  was  disappointed,  not  meeting  with 
any  farmers  sufficiently  informed. 

"  From  the  farms  in  my  neighborhood  (from  which  you 
naturally  expected  me  to  collect  accurate  information)  no 
conclusions  can  be  drawn  ;  their  peculiar  situation,  in  re- 
spect to  title,  and  their  quality  rendering  them  exceptions  to 


492  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

most  of  the  farms  in  the  United  States.  Their  title,  being  in 
suspense  between  the  chiimants  under  Connecticut  and  Penn- 
sylvania, prevents  their  due  cultivation  and  improvement ; 
and  tlie  parts  under  cultivation  are  almost  exclusively  the 
bottom  (or  interval)  lands,  adjacent  to  the  River  Susque- 
lianna  and  its  branches.  The  residue  of  the  country  is  with- 
out enclosures,  where  the  cattle  range  at  large,  and  where, 
till  within  four  years  past,  the  people  cut  wood  for  timber 
and  fuel  at  discretion,  without  regarding  their  own  lines  of 
property.  This  singular  state  of  the  Wyoming  farms  pre- 
cludes the  idea  of  fixing  their  value.  Their  contents,  gener- 
ally, are  three  hundred  acres,  of  which,  upon  an  average,  not 
thirty  acres  are  reclaimed  from  a  state  of  nature.  The  aver- 
age produce  of  their  cultivated  grounds  I  estimate  as  fol- 
lows :  — 


Wheat 15  busliels  per  acre. 

Rye 12        „      „ 

Oats 25 

Buckwheat      ....  15 

Indian-corn      ....  25 

Hay .  1^      ton 


>} 


}f 


>> 


>■      Without  manure. 


"  Mr.  Bordley,  of  Maryland  (in  a  pamphlet,  published  in 
1784),  remarks  that  Mr.  Young,  the  English  travelling  far- 
mer, has  ascertained  that  two  hundred  and  eighty-nine  acres 
are  the  avcrj  ge  size  of  farms  in  England  ;  of  which  one 
hundred  and  forty  are  in  grass,  and  the  remaining  one  hundred 
and  forty-nine  are  called  arable  ;  although  only  one  hundred 
and  twelve  give  crops,  the  residue,  thirty-seven  acres,  con- 
tains the  building,  orchard,  &c.  Mr.  Bordley  estimates  the 
average  size  of  Marjdand  farms  at  from  two  hundred  and  forty 
to  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  exclusive  of  woods,  and  their 
average  produce  at  six  bushels  of  wheat  and  twelve  of  Indian- 
corn  per  acre.  • 

"  An  intelligent  Jersey  farmer  (in  a  communication  to  the 
Agricultural  Societ}^)  rated  the  average  produce  of  wheat  in 
that  State  to  be  under  six  bushels. 

"  Doctor  Tilton  thus  states  the  produce  of  lands  in  the  Del- 
aware State  :  '  An  acre  of  ground  will  produce  of  Timothy 
from  one  to  two  tons  of  dry  forage ;  of  red  clover,  from  two 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  493 

to  three  tons  ;  of  Indian-corn,  from  fifteen  to  fifty  bushels  ; 
of  wheat,  from  six  to  twenty  bushels  ;  of  barley  and  rye, 
from  ten  to  thirty-five  bushels  ;  of  oats  and  buckwheat,  from 
fifteen  to  thirty  bushels  ;  of  Irish  potatoes,  from  one  hundred 
to  three  hundred  bushels.' 

''  If  the  Doctor  meant  that  the  mean  quantities  should  be 
coijsidered  as  the  average  produce,  the  lands  in  the  Delaware 
State  must  be  more  fertile  or  better  cultivated  than  the  lands 
of  any  of  the  old  States  in  the  Union. 

"  I  have  made  a  few  inquiries  relative  to  the  sizes  of  farms  ; 
and  their  divisions  into  meadow,  pasture,  arable,  and  wood-land 
in  this  State  and  Connecticut ;  but  the  answers  were  not  sat- 
isfactory, and  as  your  application  to  me  respected  only  lands 
in  '  my  quarter,'  it  may  be  useless  to  state  them. 

*'  As  it  is  thus  in  my  power  to  give  you  only  such  very 
imperfect  information,  relative  to  the  subject  of  your  investi- 
gation, I  hope  you  may  have  taken  measures  to  obtain  from 
others  what  will  answer  your  design.  I  think,  however,  it 
will  be  impossible  to  ascertain  the  requisite  facts  with  pre- 
cision ;  for  I  doubt  whether  one  American  farmer  in  a  thou- 
sand has  determined,  by  actual  measurement,  the  sizes  of  his 
fields  and  their  produce. 

"  I  am,  Sir,  &c., 

"  TuMOTHY  Pickering. 

"  A.  Hamilton,  Esq.,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury." 

Early  in  June,  Colonel  Pickering  left  home  to  meet 
the  Indians.  He  will  relate  his  experience  in  passages 
of  letters  to  his  wife. 

"  Tioga  Point,  Tuesday  morning,  June  14th,  1791. 

"  I  arrived  here  this  morning  in  perfect  health.  The  waters 
of  the  Tioga  River  ai>e  so  low  that  the  provisions  and  stores 
can  be  got  up  no  farther  than  Newtown  Point,  about  twenty 
miles  from  this  place  ;  where,  of  course,  the  treaty  will  be 
held.  There  are  many  inhabitants  in  that  neighborhood,  so 
that  living  will  be  more  agreeable  than  at  the  Painted  Post. 
I  purpose,  however,  to  visit  the  latter  place,  and  shall  prob- 
ably go  as  far  as  Colonel  Lindley's,  setting  out  this  afternoon 


494  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

in  company  with  Mr.  Ford.     From  what  I  have  heard,  there 
will  be  a  numerous  assemblage  of  Indians. 

"I wrote  you  from  Solomon  Avery's  at  Tunkhannock." 

"  On  the  Tioga  River,  five  miles  below  the  Painted  Post, 

"  June  15th,  1791. 

"  T  am  now  at  Major  jMcCormick's,  where  I  have  just  dined, 
and  presently  shall  proceed  to  the  Painted  Post. 

"  I  wrote  you  yesterday  a  long  letter  about  farming  affairs, 
which  I  hope  will  get  safe  to  hand.  I  mentioned  my  expecta- 
tion that  the  treaty  would  be  held  at  Newtown  Point,  sup- 
posing the  waters  too  low  to  get  boats  up  to  the  Painted  Post. 
But  before  I  absolutel}'  decide  on  this,  I  mean  to  see  some  of  the 
Indian  Chiefs,  and,  if  I  can  make  them  satisfied  to  go  to  New- 
town Point,  I  will  hold  the  treaty  there  ;  otherwise,  we  must 
drag  up  the  provisions  and  stores  to  the  Painted  Post,  draw- 
ing the  loaded  canoes  with  oxen,  where  the  water  is  too  shal- 
low. 

"  Reports  indicate  a  large  assembly  of  Indians,  but  reports 
are  uncertain.  I  expect  much  more  trouble  to  manage  them, 
than  I  experienced  last  autumn ;  but  the  present  objects  are 
of  much  greater  moment. 

"  I  hear  that  General  Chapin  and  Mr.  Phelps  will  be  at 
the  treaty.  There  appears  a  prospect  of  many  white  specta- 
tors. I  am  pleased  with  this  prospect,  and  hope  to  conduct 
the  business  with  success." 

"  Newtown,  June  17th,  1791,  at  Colonel  Miller's. 

"  I  have  heard  that  the  Indians  will  be  at  the  Painted  Post 
in  about  two  days  ;  but  I  doubt  it,  as  no  runners  have  yet 
arrived.  I  mean  to  hold  the  treaty  at  Newtown  Point 
(twenty  miles  above  Tioga),  if  I  can  satisfy  the  Indians  to 
come  so  far.*' 

"  Newtown  Point,  June  27th,  1791. 

"  The  treaty  will,  as  before,  be  of  tedious  continuance. 
The  Indians  from  the  north-east  are  come  in  ;  but  the  Senecas 
and  others  in  their  country  are  yet  behind,  at  the  distance, 
probably,  of  fifty  or  sixty  miles.  I  think  they  will  not  arrive, 
and  be  ready  to  begin  business,  till  the  latter  end  of  this 
week ;  and  the  treaty  may  then  last  ten  days. 

"  P.  S.  Tim  arrived  last  Tuesday.  He  is  well,  and  often 
diverted  with  Indian  manners." 


LITE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  495 

"Newtown  Point,  July  1st,  1791. 

"  As  this  will  be  carried  by  Mr.  Bowman,  I  need  not  be 
particular  in  my  account  of  things  at  this  place.  The  main 
body  of  the  Indians  are  arrived  ;  but  they  will  choose  to  wait 
for  some  behind.  The  numbers  present  from  all  the  Six'Na- 
tions  now  amount  to  about  nine  hundred.  I  expect  they  will, 
in  the  end,  make  up  one  thousand.  From  present  appear- 
ances, we  shall  not  enter  on  the  real  business  of  the  treaty 
till  next  Monday ;  and  if  the  treaty  breaks  up  in  twelve  clays, 
it  will  be  as  soon  as  I  expect. 

"  I  remain  in  perfect  health,  and  Tim  is  hearty.  He  went 
last  evenings  to  see  the  Indians  dance. 

"  The  Indians  all  appear  to  be  well  disposed,  and  were  it 
not  for  their  inordinate  love  of  rum,  they  would  be  very  easy 
to  deal  with  ;  at  present  they  are  troublesome  by  their  per- 
petual importunities  for  rum," 

"  Newtown,  July  5th,  1791. 

"  Yesterday  we  began  the  real  business  of  the  treaty ;  and, 
from  what  at  present  appears,  I  suspect  it  will  not  be  finished 
under  ten  days.  We  have  now  about  nine  hundred  Indians 
on  the  ground,  about  a  hundred  and  thirty  more  will  be  here 
to-day  or  to-morrow.  They  are  all  in  good  temper,  and  I 
expect  the  treaty  will  close  in  a  very  satisfactory  manner. 
The  bearer  is  Mr.  Rutherford,  a  member  of  Congress,  who 
is  on  his  way  home  to  New  Jersey  ;  should  he  call  with  the 
letter  himself,  you  will  ask  him  to  breakfast  or  to  tea,  if  it 
happens  to  be  convenient." 

"  Newtown  Point,  Sunday,  July  10,  1791. 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  the  Indians  dis- 
cover a  very  good  disposition,  and  to  place  much  confidence 
in  me.  The  treaty,  I  expect,  will  conclude  agreeably,  in  the 
course  of  the  present  week. 

'*  There  are  upwards  of  a  thousand  Indians  on  the  ground, 
of  all  ages,  which,  far  exceeding  the  number  I  looked  for, 
renders  the  feeding  of  them  a  little  difficult ;  because  it  is 
not  easy  to  get  grain  ground  for  them.  Of  beef  there  is 
enough.  Tim  is  desirous  of  buying  some  things  for  his  brothers. 
He  will  prooably  bring  home  a  silver  brooch,  and  a  pair  of 
moccasins  for  each  of  them." 


496  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

Having  accomplished  the  object  of  his  mission,  in  con- 
chiding  a  treaty  of  vital  importance  at  that  crisis,  by 
which  the  friendship  to  the  United  States  of  the  Six 
Nations  was  confirmed  and  secured,  Colonel  Pickering 
returned  to  his  family,  and,  after  a  few  days,  repaired  to 
the  seat  of  government  to  make  report  of  his  doings. 
On  the  r2th  of  August,  1791,  he  wrote  to  his  wife,  from 
Philadelphia,  as  follows:  — 

"  As  I  left  you,  these  words  dropped  from  your  lips,  '  I  do 
not  think  we  shall  live  here  always,' —  nor  will  you.  This 
day  the  President  appointed  me  Postmaster-General.  Mr. 
Osgood  has  resigned.  Next  Monday  or  Tuesday  I  go  to  New 
York  to  see  him,  on  the  business  of  the  department. 

"  I  pray  God  to  preserve  you  and  my  dear  family,  that  you 
may  see  good  after  so  many  evil  days  ;  for,  if  the  office  should 
not  add  to  my  little  fortune,  at  least  I  trust  we  shall  live  more 
comfortably;  and  get  our  children  well  educated. 

"  Give  my  love  to  Betsey  and  the  boys ;  ask  her  if  she  is 
willing  to  trudge  through  the  swamp  with  moccasins. 

"  P.  S.  Salary  of  Postmaster-General,  as  fixed  nine  years 
ago,  only  fifteen  hundred  dollars.  Expected  to  be  materially 
raised." 

On  the  same  day  he  wrote  to  his  brother :  — 

"  Last  Tuesday  I  arrived  here  to  make  a  report  to  the  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States  of  my  proceedings  Avith  the  Indians 
of  the  Six  Nations,  at  the  treaty  I  lately  held  with  them, 
having  renewed  and  confirmed  the  peace  between  them  and 
the  United  States. 

"  This  day  the  President  sent  me  a  note,  desiring  to  see  me. 
I  waited  on  him ;  and  he  made  me  a  tender  of  the  office  of 
Postmaster-General,  which  I  have  accepted,  and  to-morrow 
expect  to  receive  my  commission." 

His  commission  was  thus  communicated  to  him  by  the 
Secretary  of  State  :  — 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY  PICKEKING.  497 

"  Philadelphia,  August  14th,  1791. 
"  To  Timothy  Pickering,  Esq., 

''Sir, 
"  The  President  of  the  United  States,  desiring  to  avail  the 
public  of  your  services,  as  Postmaster-General  of  the  United 
States,  I  have  now  the  honor  of  enclosing  you  the  commission, 
and  of  expressing  to  you  the  sentiments  of  perfect  esteem, 
with  which  I  am,  Sir,  &c. 

"  Thomas  Jeffersox." 

The  troubles,  cares,  and  trials  to  Avhich  his  family  had 
been  exposed  at  Wyoming,  undoubtedly  made  the  pros- 
pect of  a  removal  an  inexpressible  relief  to  tliem.  The 
gentle  but  feeling  words  so  prophetically  uttered  by 
Mrs.  Pickering  at  their  previous  parting,  and  lier  sister's 
declaring  that  she  Avould  be  willing  to  trudge  through 
swamps  in  moccasins,  show  how  they  yearned  to  re- 
turn from  that  solitude  to  a  life  more  in  accordance  with 
all  their  former  habits  and  associations.  There  w^as, 
indeed,  a  general  gratification  in  Colonel  Pickering's 
being  brought  back  to  a  more  conspicuous  sphere  of 
action. 

Andrew  Dunscomb  of  Richmond,  at  the  head  of  the 
land  office  of  Virginia,  w^ith  Avhom  Colonel  Pickering 
had  long  been  connected  by  public  business,  especially 
growing  out  of  transactions  as  Quartermaster- General  of 
the  Revolutionary  army,  addressed  him  a  letter  of  con- 
gratulation, which  may  serve  as  a  specimen  of  communi- 
cations of  the  kind  from  all  quarters. 

"RiCHMOXD,  Virginia,  August  2oth,  1791. 

"My  Dear  Sir, 

"  I  have  ever  felt  much  pleasing  satisfaction  to  result  from 
an  intelHgence  of  any  thing  that  contributed  to  your  views,  or 
the  peace  and  wishes  of  your  amiable  family,  and  confess  my- 
self to  have  been  alive  to  all  the  tender  feelings  of  a  friend, 

Vol.  II.  32 


498  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

whenever  T  read  of  your  exposed  situation.  At  the  treaty  I 
foreboded  evil ;  but  was  happ}^  when  informed  of  your  safe 
arrival  in  Philadelphia,  and  pleased  that  your  conduct  had 
received  the  marked  approbation  of  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  in  an  appointment  to  an  ofi&ce  of  dignity  and 
consequence.  I  take  the  liberty  of  congratulating  you  on  the 
occasion,  and  hope  the  appointment  may  be  agreeable  to  you, 
and  that  it  may  accord  with  the  wishes  of  your  amiable  lady 
and  worthy  family  to  return  again  to  the  city.  It  would 
give  me  much  pleasure  to  see  you  all." 

The  reply  to  this  letter  breathes  a  like  spirit  of  per- 
sonal friendship  :  — 

"  I  beg  you  to  accept  my  thanks  for  your  warm  expressions 
of  affection  for  me  and  my  family.  I  left  them  in  the  coun- 
try this  day  week.  My  wife  was  pretty  well  recovered,  after 
bringing  me  an  Octavius,  our  eighth  son,  now  five  weeks  old. 
We  have  had  no  daughter.  The  boys  are  all  alive,  hearty  and 
promising.  By  the  first  conveyance  I  shall  communicate  to 
her  3'our  very  obliging  letter.     With  real  regard  and  esteem,  I 

am,  dear  Sir,  yours,  &c. 

"  TniOTHY  Pickering." 

There  had  been,  indeed,  a  painful  disappointment 
among  Colonel  Pickering's  friends,  and  surprise  was 
generally  felt,  that  he  Avas  not  recalled  to  the  public 
service  at  the  opening  of  the  new  national  government. 
His  intimate  connection  with  Washington  during  the 
Kevolutionary  war ;  the  high  posts  he  had  held ;  the 
great  service  he  had  rendered ;  his  capacity  for  busi- 
ness, laborious  fidelity,  unsurpassed  energy  and  execu- 
tive ability  in  administering  a  most  difficult  department 
in  the  army,  —  w^ere  "well  known  throughout  the  country. 
His  incorruptible  integrity  was  universally  recognized. 
Great  sympathy  was  felt  in  the  hardships  he  had  en- 
dured, and  was  enduring,  at  Wyoming.  It  could  not 
fail  to  be  noticed  that,  in  the  numerous  appointments 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  499 

announced  from  day  to  day,  his  name  did  not  appear. 
No  heed,  moreover,  was  taken  of  strenuous  applications 
made  in  his  behalf,  but  without  his  knowledge,  by  men 
of  the  highest  character  and  position,  or  of  those  which 
he  presented  himself. 

The  place  now  assigned  him,  viewed  in  connection 
with  preceding  and  attending  circumstances,  explains  it 
all.  It  is  proper,  however,  to  state  that  he  himself 
never  uttered  any  sentiment  of  complaint  or  dissatisfac- 
tion. Not  a  shade  of  such  a  feeling  is  traceable  in  his 
manuscripts,  or  was  ever  represented  to  have  been  indi- 
cated in  his  conversation.  If  the  circumstance  was  ever 
noticed  by  him,  he  undoubtedly  attributed  it  to  the 
remoteness  and  obscurity  in  which,  for  the  preceding 
years,  his  life  had  passed,  —  working  on  a  farm,  holding 
local  offices  in  a  frontier  county,  and  hidden  as  it  were 
in  the  woods. 

But  he  had  not  been  forgotten  by  his  old  Commander- 
in-Chief,  or  his  associates  of  former  years. 

The  objection  that  had  been  made,  some  time  before, 
to  his  appointment  to  a  State  office,  held  against  him 
in  reference  to  an  appointment  in  the  general  govern- 
ment. It  was  a  question  whether  he  was  to  be  consid- 
ered as  belonging  to  Pennsylvania  or  Massachusetts. 
Paine  Wingate,  in  a  letter  to  him,  of  September  28th, 
1787,  speaks  thus  :  — 

"  I  am  much  mortified  that  it  has  not  been  in  the  power  of 
your  friends  to  bring  you  from  your  retirement  into  public 
life.  I  had  flattered  myself  with  tlie  hope,  that,  in  the  long 
list  of  the  late  nominations,  I  should  have  found  vour  name. 
I  did  not  think  it  proper,  in  my  connection  with  you  person- 
ally, to  solicit  the  President ;  but  I  know  that,  in  convei'sa- 
tion,  you  was  mentioned  by  many,  and  most  earnestly  wished 


500  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

for,  to  be  placed  in  some  department  of  the  Treasury ;  and  the 
President  could  not  be  unacquainted  with  the  idea.  I  know 
that  it  will  be  no  great  disappointment  to  you,  nor  do  I  sup- 
pose that  your  private  interest  will  be  affected,  but  your 
friends  (and  such  you  have  many  at  Philadelphia,  as  well  as 
at  the  eastward),  have  failed  being  gratified." 

At  the  end  of  this  letter  is  the  following :  — 

"  P.  S.  Since  I  wrote  this  letter  I  was  told  by  one,  who 
had  it  directly  from  Mr.  Clymer,  *  that  he  and  Mr.  Fitzsimons, 
both  mentioned  you  to  the  President,  as  a  very  suitable  per- 
son for  Comptroller.  The  President  discovered  an  approba- 
tion of  the  opinion  ;  but  observed  that  he  thought  it  ex^jedient 
to  disperse  the  officers  among  the  several  States,  and  he  did 
not  know  whether  the  Pennsylvanians  would  consider  you  as 
one  of  them.  Mr.  Clymer  rep)lied  that  he  was  confident  the 
most  respectable  citizens  of  that  State  would  not  only  be 
satisfied  with  your  aj)pointment,  but  heartily  wished  it." 

The  President  ^vas  in  the  right.  It  was  of  the  high- 
est importance,  in  the  state  of  the  country  at  that  crisis, 
that,  in  organizing  the  Federal  administration,  all  sec- 
tions should  be  duly  and  fairly  noticed.  If  Pickering 
had  at  that  time  been  brought  forward,  a  ground  of  cavil 
would  have  been  aflforded,  as  to  whether  he  was  to  be 
regarded  as  a  representative  man  of  the  Middle  or  of  the 
New  England  States.  This  objection  was,  in  itself,  of 
real  practical  weight ;  but,  when  connected  with  the 
fact  that  Knox,  also  a  Massachusetts  man,  w^as  made 
Secretary  of  War,  it  became  decisive  ;  and  no  one  could 
complain  of  that  appointment. 

Knox  had  been  an  officer  of  the  highest  rank  in  the 
Continental  army,  through  the  whole  Revolutionary  war, 
and  had  always  done  good  and  gallant  service.     But  one 

*  George  Clj'mer  and  Thomas  Fitzsimons,  both  of  Pennsylvania,  were  mem- 
bers of  Congress. 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  501 

service  in  particular  had  given  him  a  hold  upon  Wash- 
ington's mind  and  memory  that  could  never  be  effaced. 
Historv  has  not  sufficientlv  recorded  it ;  but  it  is  neces- 
sary  to  be  related  as  in  part  explaining  the  attachment 
of  these  two  patriots  to  each  other. 

Before  the  Revolution  began,  Knox  had  been  engaged 
in  enterprising  business  as  a  bookseller  in  Boston,  where 
he  was  born  in  1750.  lie  was  earlv  interested  in  militarv 
matters,  and,  in  the  ranks  and  as  an  officer,  had  been  an 
active  member  of  two  volunteer  companies,  one  of  which 
was  the  "  Boston  Grenadier  Corps."  He  had  married 
the  daughter  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Province,  one  of  the 
staunchest  Tories  of  the  dav.  Her  familv  had  «:reat 
social,  as  well  as  political,  position.  He,  nevertheless, 
was  devoted  to  the  Revolutionary  movement,  and  his 
heart  so  deeply  engaged  that  he  could  not  remain  inac- 
tive. He  got  out  of  Boston  and  made  his  way  to  the 
Colonial  forces.  He  was  put  in  charge  of  procuring  a 
supply  of  cannon,  for  the  army  at  Cambridge,  from  the 
Canadian  frontier  posts,  and  he  executed  the  service  ; 
reappearing  at  head-quarters  in  Cambridge,  followed 
by  a  long  train  of  vehicles  on  runners,  drawn  by  oxen, 
and  delivered  over  more  than  fifty  cannons,  mortars,  and 
howitzers,  with  their  requisite  appendages.  No  one 
can  calculate  the  value  of  this  acquisition.  If  it  had 
not  been  for  this,  it  is  difficult  to  say  how  the  siege  of 
Boston  could  have  proceeded,  and  the  British  been  com- 
pelled to  evacuate  it.  Washington  fully  appreciated 
the  importance  of  the  achievement,  and  the  resolution, 
prowess,  and  courage  with  which  it  had  been  conducted, 
and  it  laid  deep  the  foundations  of  the  friendship  he 
ever  afterwards  cherished. 


502  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

This  was  the  basis  of  the  artillery  department  of  the 
Revolutionary  army,  and  Knox  remained  at  the  head  of 
it  to  the  end  of  the  war.  His  post  was  always  with  the 
main  body  of  the  army,  and  near  head-quarters.  A  close 
friendship  grew  up  between  him  and  the  Commander- 
in-Chief,  of  which  their  families  partook.  Washington 
loved  him  for  his  large-heartedness,  manly  frankness, 
heroism,  and  all  his  personal  and  military  qualities. 
It  was  natural,  and  all  felt  it  to  be  so,  to  call  him  to  the 
war  department. 

For  Pickering  Washington  had  another  object  in 
view,  which,  however,  he  seems  never  to  have  disclosed 
until  he  could  put  it  into  effect. 

The  first  Congress  met  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and 
soon  entered  upon  earnest,  sometimes  heated,  and  long- 
protracted  debates,  as  to  the  proper  place  for,  as  they 
expressed  it,  "  a  Federal  Seat."  There  w^as  a  general 
impression  that  it  ought  to  be  more  central  to  the  Union  ; 
and  it  was  understood  that  it  would,  for  this  and  other 
reasons,  soon  be  removed  from  New  York.  Washing- 
ton was  known  to  be  in  favor  of  fixing  it  on  the  banks 
of  the  Potomac,  where  it  now  is.  Some  favored  its  being 
established  on  the  Delaware,  some  on  the  Susquehanna, 
some  at  Germantown.  it  was  concluded  to  have  it 
removed  to   Philadelphia. 

Samuel  Ossfood.  a  man  of  hi^h  character  and  abili- 
ties,  was  Postmaster-General,  appointed  by  the  old 
Congress,  and  in  office  when  the  new  government  was 
inaugurated.  Althouo:h  a  native  of  Andover,  and  long 
a  leading  citizen  of  Massachusetts,  he  had  removed  his 
residence  to  New  York  city.  Washington  continued 
him   in   office.     But  it  was   understood  that,   upon   the 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  503 

removal  of  the  seat  of  government  from  Xew  York,  his 
business  would  require  him  to  resign  it.  In  that  event, 
which  was  quite  sure  soon  to  occur,  all  the  circumstances 
show  that  Washington  was.  from  the  first,  determined  to 
appoint  Colonel  Pickering  to  the  place.  It  was  one  for 
which  he  knew  him  to  be  especially  adapted,  and  in 
which  the  country  would  experience,  in  the  highest 
degree,  the  benefit  of  his  ability,  industry,  and  energy. 
For  this  reason  he  waived  all  propositions  to  have  him 
appointed  to  other  offices.  There  could  be  no  objection 
on  the  ground  that  New  England  had  already  a  member 
of  the  Cabinet  in  the  Secretary  of  War,  for  the  Post- 
master-General was  not  then  the  head  of  a  department, 
but  of  what  was  considered  a  branch  of  the  Treasurv. 
Sectional  jealousy,  which  w^ould  perhaps  have  been  ex- 
cited if,  in  the  original  programme  of  the  administration, 
two  leading  positions  had  been  assigned  to  Massa- 
chusetts men,  was  not  so  much  to  be  feared  in  filling  a 
vacancy  subsequently  occurring. 

It  will  be  remembered  with  what  an  affectionate  cor- 
diality, so  uncommon  with  him,  Washington  greeted  and 
conferred  with  Colonel  Pickerinsr  at  their  meetino;  on  the 
3d  of  September,  1790,  when  he  requested  him  to  under- 
take the  first  mission  to  the  Six  Nations.  In  August, 
1791,  when  he  returned  from  his  second  mission  to 
those  tribes,  Mr.  Osgood  having  resigned,  Washington 
sent  Pickering  the  note  requesting  an  interview,  and  ten- 
dered him  the  office  of  Postmaster-General. 

It  can  hardly  be  questioned  that  this  had  been  his 
design  all  alono;.  From  the  time  w^hen  Colonel  Picker- 
ing  brought  to  him,  in  the  Jerseys,  his  Essex  Regiment, 
to   the   close  of  his   Presidency,  whenever  Washington 


504  LITE   OF  TIMOTHY   PICKERING. 

needed  an  able,  reliable,  upright  coadjutor,  he  knew 
Avliere  to  find  him.  However  annoying,  occasionally,  their 
extreme  difference  of  habitual  temperament  might  have 
been,  their  absolute  confidence  in  each  other's  purity  and 
patriotism  was  steadfast  from  the  beginning  to  the  end. 
Upon  receiving  his  commission,  Colonel  Pickering  ad- 
dressed the  following  letter  to  the  Governor  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. In  the  earlier  part  of  the  Revolutionary  war, 
relations  of  great  friendship  existed  between  him  and 
General  Mifflin,  which,  however,  were  interrupted  by  the 
connection  of  the  latter  with  the  party,  among  the  offi- 
cers of  the  army,  not  deemed  friendly  to  Washington, 
particularly  with  what  was  known  as  the  Conway  Cabal. 
Out  of  these  causes  grew  the  alienation  referred  to  in  the 
letter.  It  is  given  at  length,  as  it  affords  a  summary  of 
the  value  and  operations  of  the  offices  Colonel  Pickering 
had  held  in  Luzerne,  presents  items  of  personal  interest, 
is  a  contribution  to  the  history  of  that  county,  and  is  an 
instance  of  Colonel  Pickering's  regard  for  its  welfare,  and 
of  disinterested  courtesy  to  one  from  whom,  although  once 
his  friend,  circumstances  had  somewhat  severed  him  :  — 

"  Philadelphia,  August  16th,  1791. 

"Sm, 

"  It  is  proper  for  me  to  inform'  you  that  the  President  of 
the  United  States  has  been  pleased  to  appoint  me  to  the  office 
of  Postmaster-General.  This,  of  course,  vacates  the  offices 
which  I  held  under  Pennsylvania  ;  and,  thouG^h  I  do  not  feel 
myself  under  any  obligations  to  the  county  of  Luzerne,  yet  I 
shall  be  pleased  to  see  its  welfare  promoted.  I  shall  be  pleased 
to  see  that  part  of  Pennsylvania  prosper  ;  and  I  shall  also  be 
pleased.  Sir,  to  see  your  administration  approved  and  ap- 
plauded. 

''  I  am  at  all  times  indisposed  to  adulation.  I  hope,  Sir,  I 
am  incapable  of  it.     My  present  situation  has  removed  all 


LIFE    OF   TIMOTHY   PICKERING.  505 

possible  inducement  to  it.  I  may,  therefore,  now  say  what, 
a  week  ago,  would  have  been  suppressed,  lest  it  should  have 
been  suspected  to  arise  from  interested  views,  which  I  was 
willing  to  promote  by  dishonorable  means. 

"  Qnce  we  were  friends^  and  once^  I  persuade  myself,  you 
placed  a  confidence  in  me.  iVbt^,  I  am  not  your  enem?/.  The 
asperities  which  sprung  up  from  certain  circumstances  time  has 
worn  away.  It  will  now  give  me  pleasure  to  contribute,  if  I 
can,  to  the  success  of  your  administration.  At  present,  I  cannot 
do  it  so  effectually  in  any  way,  as  by  giving  you  information 
respecting  the  county  of  Luzerne,  especially  respecting  the 
offices  I  there  held.  "With  regard  to  these^  in  giving  informa- 
tion, I  comply  with  your  own  wishes,  expressed  in  your 
circular  letter  of  (I  think)  last  December,  inviting  to  a 
correspondence  concerning  them. 

"  In  the  first  place,  give  me  leave  to  assure  you  that  the 
business  in  all  these  offices  together  is  of  but  small  extent^  and 
consec[uently  of  small  emolument^  too  small  to  admit  of  a 
division. 

In  the  Register's  office,  during  a  space  of  more  than  four 
years,  but  about  half  a  dozen  wills  have  been  presented. 
Letters  of  administration  have  been  more  numerous.  I  think 
between  eighty  and  ninety  have  been  issued ;  but  these  have 
been  chiefly  on  the  estates  of  persons  who  were  dead  before 
the  change  of  jurisdiction  in  1782 ;  and  of  these  the  greater 
part  fell  victims  to  the  Indians  in  1778.  The  run  of  these  is 
over,  and  scarcely  half  a  dozen  letters  are  now  issued  in  a 
year. 

'*  In  the  Orphans'  Court,  all  the  proceedings  do  not  fill  a 
quire  of  paper. 

"  In  the  Court  of  General  Quarter-Sessions  of  the  Peace,  as 
little  business  has  occurred  as  in  the  Orphans'  Court. 

''  In  the  Recorder's  office,  the  deeds  and  mortgages  are 
recorded  in  separate  books  ;  and,  if  united,  would  fill  about 
three-fourths  of  one  folio  volume  of  demi^  or  about  five 
quires  of  paper. 

''  The  Prothonotary's  office  furnished  most  business ;  but 
this  arose  from  the  Uke  cause  with  the  letters  of  administration  ; 


506  LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY   PICKKItlXG. 

the  business  had  been  dammed  up  during  several  years ;  the 
law,  introdncrd,  opened  the  gates  ;  and,  during  three  years, 
there  was  a  run  of  from  twenty  to  forty  actions  at  a  term. 
But  the  sources  have  failed,  and  the  stream  is  greatly  reduced. 
At  the  last  term,  the  number  of  actions  was  about  eighteen  ; 
and  when  I  left  home,  ten  days  ago,  there  stood  on  the  docket 
but  a  solitary  action  for  the  ensuing  term,  commencing  this 
day  two  weeks. 

"'  These  facts  I  state  from  my  memory  (which,  however,  I 
believe  is  pretty  correct),  not  expecting  such  occasion  to  use 
them  ;  for,  till  I  reached  Bethlehem,  I  knew  not  that  any 
office  under  the  United  States  was  vacant. 

"  Permit  me  now.  Sir,  to  mention  a  gentleman  there  who 
can  well  execute,  and  who  Avell  deserves  all  those  offices.  I 
mean  Abraham  Bradley,  Esquire,  whose  prudence,  steadiness, 
and  sobriety  are  exemplary,  —  whose  integrity  is  unblemished, 
whose  industry  has  no  rival,  and  whose  judgment  and  law 
knowledge  have  there  no  superior ;  I  should  speak  more 
accurately  if  I  should  say  no  equal.  In  pleadings  and  the 
necessary  forms,  he  is  decidedly  superior  to  all.  But  he  came 
later  into  the  practice  than  the  other  attorneys,  was  younger, 
somewhat  diffident,  and  has  not  formed  a  habit  of  speaking.  He 
has  therefore  had  few  cases  to  manage,  and  his  fees  have  been 
triffing.  He  studied  law,  and  wrote  in  the  office  of  Tapping 
Reeve,  Esquire,  an  eminent  lawyer  at  Litchfield,  in  Connecti- 
cut. He  writes  a  fair,  strong,  legible  hand,  perfectly  adapted  to 
records.  During  my  frequent  absences  in  the  last  two  years,  he 
has  done  the  business  in  the  court  and  in  my  office  with  great 
propriety.  'Tis  a  business  in  which  he  takes  pleasure.  His 
law  knowledge  renders  him  peculiarly  fit  to  hold  all  the  offices 
before-mentioned,  and  will  give  great  facility  in  the  execution. 
And  his  law  knowledge  will  not  be  stationary  ;  it  will  ad- 
vance. For  he  has  an  inquisitive  mind,  and  a  taste  for  lit- 
erature in  general. 

*'  This,  Sir,  is  not  the  language  of  hyperbole.  '  I  speak  the 
words  of  truth  and  soberness,'  from  an  intimate  personal  ac- 
quaintance with  iSlr.  Bradley.     I  think  he  was,  last  spring, 


LITE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  507 

admitted  an  attorney  in  the  Supreme  Court ;  but  Mr.  Burd 
can  inform  you.* 

"  With  great  satisfaction,  Sir,  I  have  seen  the  respectable 
law  appointments  which  you  have  made  ;  and  I  have  heard 
them  spoken  of  in  terms  of  high  approbation.  The  same 
principle  will  lead  you  to  select  other  officers  for  the  depart- 
ment of  law  who  have  the  best  law  knowledge.  I  need  not 
mention  that  the  Register's  and  Prothonotary's  offices  more 
especially  require  much  law  knowledge ;  and  the  more  the 
incumbent  possesses,  with  the  more  propriety  and  facility  he 
will  execute  them.  More  than  ever,  law  knowledge  in  the 
Prothonotary  will  now  be  useful  and  important,  on  account 
of  the  increased  importance  of  the  court  under  the  new  Con- 
stitution. 

"  Give  me  leave.  Sir,  to  close  this  long  letter  with  a  few 
words  relative  to  the  county  Judges.  Mr.  Joseph  Kinney 
was  pretty  early  appointed  a  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas ; 
but,  fully  expecting  to  remove  to  the  State  of  New  York,  he 
sent  to  the  court  a  letter  of  resignation ;  but  I  do  not  know 
whether  his  resignation  was  ever  declared  to  the  late  Execu- 


*  The  Washington  "  National  Intelligencer,"  of  Thursday,  May  10th,  1838,  has 
the  following : — 

"  Death.  In  this  city,  on  Monday  night,  Abraham  Bradley,  Esquire,  one  of 
our  most  venerable  and  respected  fellow-citizens,  and  formerly,  for  a  long  series 
of  years,  honorably  known  as  filling,  with  distinguished  ability,  the  arduous 
trust  of  Assistant  Postmaster-General. 

"  Abraham  Bradley  was  born  on  the  22d  of  February,  1767.  He  read  law  in 
the  office,  and  under  the  immediate  direction,  of  the  late  Judge  Reeve,  of  Litch- 
field, and  settled  at  Wilkesbarre,  in  the  Valley  of  Wyoming.  He  was  soon 
appointed  a  Judge,  and  retained  the  office  until  just  before  he  removed  to  Phila- 
delphia. He  entered  the  Post-office  department  when  under  the  direction  of 
Mr.  Pickering,  and  was  shortly  afterwards,  upon  its  first  organization,  appointed 
Assistant  Postmaster-General,  whicli  office  he  retained  till  the  month  of  Septem- 
ber, 1829,  wlien  he  was  removed,  without  cause,  by  the  executive,  from  an 
office  in  which  he  had  rendered,  and  was  rendering,  invaluable  services  to  his 
country.  Since  then  he  has  lived  in  privacy,  holding,  for  the  last  two  years,  the 
office  of  Secretary  of  the  Franklin  Insurance  Company,  in  this  citj'. 

"  The  fidelity,  ability,  and  unwearied  industry  with  which  he  discharged  his 
public  duties  were  known  to  all.  To  his  surviving  children  and  friends  it  must 
be  gratifying  indeed  to  be  able  to  look  to  the  whole  of  his  life  as  full  of  bright 
examples,  and  illustrated  by  the  strictest  integrity." 


508  LIFE   OF  TIMOTHY  PICKERING. 

tive  Council.  I  believe  it  was  not.  He  lived  near  Tioga, 
where  Esquire  Hollenback  was  sometimes  present,  and  to 
which  neighborhood  Esquire  Murray  moved  up  from  Shawnee. 
Mr.  Kinney  was  disappointed  in  respect  to  the  lands  in  York 
State  to  which  he  meant  to  go,  and  has  remained  in  Luzerne. 
Christopher  Hurlbut,  Esquire,  is  now  a  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  that  county.  These 
two  gentlemen  I  name  before  all  others  who  can  have  any  pre- 
tensions to  the  office  of  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas  under 
the  new  Constitution ;  because  they  are  decidedly  men  of 
superior  discernment,  of  minds  more  improved  and  still  im- 
proving ;  because  they  are  inquisitive,  have  a  taste  for  reading, 
and  a  thirst  for  knowledge.  I  do  not  know  that  the  other 
Judges  can  be  better  chosen  than  from  among  the  gentlemen 
who  have  held  seats  in  the  legislature  and  Executive  Council, 
whom  you  personally  know.  The  characters  of  the  gentle- 
men I  have  described,  I  think,  are  drawn  with  truth.  If  I 
were  never  to  see  you  again,  if  I  were  going  to  quit  this  coun- 
try or  world,  I  should  freely  write  what  I  have  here  written. 

"  Should  you  honor  me  with  any  questions  relative  to  the 
county  of  Luzerne,  I  shall  answer  them  with  pleasure,  and 
with  the  same  candor  that  I  should  have  given  you  informa- 
tion at  any  period  of  my  life. 

''  I  have  the  honor  to  be  respectfully.  Sir,  your  most  obe- 
dient and  humble  servant, 

"  T.  Pickering. 

"  Thomas  Mifflin,  Esq.,  Governor 
of  Pennsylvania." 

Colonel  Pickering  delivered  this  letter  to  Governor 
Mifflin  on  the  morning  of  August  17th,  1791. 

This  terminated  his  service  under  the  government 
of  Pennsylvania,  in  the  county  of  Luzerne.  It  was  his 
lot  to  be  identified,  as  an  actor  and  sufferer,  with  the  last 
scenes  of  violence  and  contention,  that,  for  thirty  years, 
had  crowded  the  troublous  and  tragic  history  of  Wyom- 
ing.    He  was  sent  there  to  give  rest  and  peace  to  that 


LIFE   OF   TIMOTHY  PICKERING.  509 

long-distracted  valley,  and  the  work  was   now  accom- 
plished. 

He  encountered  the  lawless  elements  reigning  there 
in  his  own  person.  Once  driven  by  a  maddened  and 
yelling  mob,  a  fugitive,  into  mountain  forests  ;  afterwards 
torn  from  his  bed  at  midnight  by  ruffians,  pinioned,  hur- 
ried to  the  unknown  depths  of  a  wilderness,  and  kept 
there  fettered  for  weeks  at  the  mercy  of  his  captors. 
But  his  indomitable  firmness  and  courage  subdued  them. 
The  passions  that  convulsed  that  people  finally  exploded 
in  these  outrages  upon  his  person ;  all  traces  of  them 
disappeared  for  ever ;  and  law  and  order  were  per- 
manently established.  The  debt  of  gratitude  due  to  his 
memory  by  that  State,  especially  by  the  inhabitants  of 
the  region  on  both  sides  of  the  eastern  branch  of  the 
Susquehanna,  will  be  more  deeply  felt  as  history  fulfils 
its  office. 

If  Colonel  Pickering's  efi"orts  to  open  roads  had  been 
duly  seconded  by  the  government,  and  if  his  appeals  and 
remonstrances  to  the  General  Assembly  had  been  heeded, 
and  the  titles  to  land  seasonably  and  unalterably  con- 
firmed, his  correspondence  with  William  Bingham  shows 
that  an  earlier  generation  would  have  witnessed  and 
enjoyed  the  marvellous  development  of  the  mineral 
wealth  of  Pennsvlvania.* 


*  Vols.  Ivii.  and  Iviii.  of  Colonel  Pickering's  Manuscripts  contain  all  the  original 
papers  connected  with  his  labors  in  organizing  the  county  of  Luzerne,  with  his 
various  and  extraordinary  experiences  there,  and  his  final  success  in  securing 
the  permanent  peace  and  tranquillity  of  that  region ;  and  also  many  sources  of 
valuable  information  as  to  the  remarkable  history  of  the  Wyoming  Valley,  and 
the  controversies  and  conflicts  for  its  possession,  summarily  described  in  a  pre- 
vious chapter  of  this  work. 


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